An estimated 9.6 million people in the U.S. have diabetes. And roughly 26% of those diagnosed with the disease have diabetic retinopathy (DR), an eye condition that can cause vision loss and blindness.
Types of Diabetic Retinopathy
T here are two primary types of diabetic retinopathy, the first of which is nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR), an eye disease characterized by weakened blood vessels in the retina. NPDR can cause the walls of smaller blood vessels in the eye to bulge and leak fluid into the retina. It can also cause larger retinal vessels to dilate and become irregular in diameter. NPDR is usually asymptomatic.
The second form of diabetic retinopathy is proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR), a diabetes-related eye condition that triggers the growth of new and abnormal blood vessels in the retina. Symptoms associated with PDR include blurred or patchy vision, eye pain, and the presence of floaters in one’s line of vision. Worsening of vision and sudden vision loss are also hallmark PDR symptoms, say eye doctors specializing in diabetic retinopathy in Delray Beach, Florida.
Treating Diabetic Retinopathy
Treatments for diabetic retinopathy generally include anti-vascular endothelial growth factor therapy, which involves injecting medications into the eye to prevent the growth of new blood vessels. Laser treatment to seal leaking blood vessels or shrink abnormal blood vessels is also commonly prescribed to individuals with advanced diabetic retinopathy. Medications to help lower high blood sugar levels are another common go-to. In extreme cases, treating DR may require surgery.
Protect Your Vision Today
Vision problems are an unfortunate side effect of uncontrolled diabetes. Fortunately, several treatments can help save and even improve your vision if you’ve been diagnosed with the disease. For more information about these treatments, consider scheduling a consultation with Retinal Eye Care Associates, a premier eye care facility specializing in diabetic retinopathy in Delray Beach, Florida, today.
