Diabetic Retinopathy
Diabetic Retinopathy
Early detection and early treatment ….. blindness can be prevented in nearly everybody with diabetes.
Diabetic retinopathy occurs when the tiny blood vessels inside the retina at the back of the eye are damaged as a result of diabetes. This can seriously affect vision and in some cases cause blindness.
What are the most common symptoms?
- Blurred or distorted vision that makes it difficult to read standard print, watch television or see people’s faces
- Increased sensitivity to glare and difficulty seeing at night
- There may be no symptoms in the very early stages, this is why having your eyes checked is an important part of your self care planning.
Who is at risk?
If you have diabetes you are at risk. There is an increased risk if you have:
- An inadequate diabetes self care plan
- Above target blood-glucose levels
- Above target blood pressure, particularly if you also have kidney disease
- A long history of diabetes
Can it be treated?
Laser and other surgical procedures can slow the progression of the disease and decreases the risk of vision loss.
How can you reduce your risk of vision loss from diabetic retinopathy?
- See an eye care professional regularly: at least every 1-2 years.
- Take prescribed medicines as instructed
- Manage blood-glucose levels and follow a healthy diet
- Use your team i.e. diabetes educator, dietitian, exercise physiologist, podiatrist, GP, endocrinologist, etc to help you achieve your health goals
The National Health & Medical Research Council developed Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Management of Diabetic Retinopathy
Something to read with your doctor.
The objective of these guidelines is to assist practitioners in making decisions about the appropriate health care of patients with diabetes.
Considerable evidence now shows that diabetes is becoming a more frequent problem in our community so that detecting diabetic eye disease is critically important, since there are well developed and proven strategies to prevent visual loss.
The period since 1997 has witnessed the introduction of newer modalities to investigate patients with diabetic eye disease, such as Optical Coherence Tomography and newer treatments such as intravitreal triamcinolone. A variety of agents aimed at inhibiting pathways leading to diabetic retinopathy (e.g. protein kinase C) or the induction of retinal angiogenesis (e.g. vascular endothelial growth factor) are also being evaluated in clinical trials at this time.
These guidelines (click here) were developed by the Australian Diabetes Society and approved by the NHMRC.
Understanding Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy
Click here for more information
Have you had your eyes check recently?
Understanding Non-Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy
Click here for more information
Ask questions, and get answers that you understand.
I have this condition and have been working with my eye doctor for three years to monitor it. Two weeks ago I had my first surgery to address the thing. I am disappointed that my diabetes has caught up with me, I work very hard to stay fit and active.
The hardest part has been some of the fears of my wife who is asking me if she has to think of going back to work, if we should take our kids now on a big trip around Australia. Why? Before I go blind of course. She thinks I’m a walking complication even though I can do a 10:6 in a beep test, can swim 1500m in 25 min and take street kids rockclimbing as my job.
Sometimes she makes me feel – small. This hurts more than the treatment for my eyes which does frighten me.
Anyway I have the condition, I am recieving treatment and am working on keeping my sight for as long as I can!
Thanks for sharing Dave.
I know how hard you work on your physical health. It must be disappointing to lack support / have the negative aspects brought up like this.
Might it be helpful for you and your wife to work with a counsellor together? Is that something you/she would consider?
Keep up the good work