There are over 800,000 Australians who have diabetes but only half of them know they have it. Every person with diabetes will develop diabetic retinopathy. Without treatment, diabetic retinopathy can cause loss of vision and blindness. People with diabetes are 25 times more likely to lose vision or go blind than those without diabetes.
Diabetic retinopathy is caused by complications of diabetes
Diabetic retinopathy is an eye disease caused by complications of diabetes. Diabetes causes damages to the blood vessels that nourish the retina, the seeing part of the eye.
Fig. 1 A photograph of a normal retina
The longer a person has diabetes, the more likely the person is to develop diabetic retinopathy.
No obvious symptoms in the early stages
In the early stages of diabetic retinopathy there are no symptoms and vision may not change until the disease is advanced. There are two forms of retinopathy that can affect sight:
- Maculopathy - develops when some of the small blood vessels around the macula (the part of the retina that provides sharp, central vision) become blocked. This causes other blood vessels to leak, so that fluids build up around the macula causing swelling and loss of sight.
- Proliferative retinopathy - develops when abnormal blood vessels grow in the wrong places on the surface of the retina, and even forward into the centre of the eye. These blood vessels bleed easily, blocking vision. As they heal, scar tissue forms, resulting in a tightening that can pull on the retina and may cause it to separate from the back of the eye. This causes vision loss.
Fig. 2 Photograph of a retina showing proliferative retinopathy – (v) growth of new unnatural blood vessels (h) retinal haemorrhage
Eye exams can detect diabetic retinopathy
Diabetic retinopathy can be detected during a comprehensive eye examination through dilated (enlarged) pupils. An eye specialist uses medicated drops to enlarge the pupil. The enlarged pupil makes it easier to examine the back of the eye and detect early signs of the disease.
Diabetic retinopathy can also be detected with a special camera that can photograph the back of the eye without the use of dilating drops. Although this method checks for signs of diabetic retinopathy, it is not a comprehensive eye examination.
People with diabetes should have their eyes examined for diabetic retinopathy when diabetes is diagnosed, and then at least every two years. When changes are noticed in the retina more frequent examinations are recommended.
Lasers can treat diabetic retinopathy
Laser treatment is used successfully to treat retinopathy. A narrow, high energy light beam is aimed through the pupil and onto the retina to shrink the abnormal blood vessels. However, laser treatment cannot restore vision that has already been lost.
Where to get help
- Your family doctor
- Ophthalmologist (eye specialist)
- Optometrist.
Things to remember
- Everyone with diabetes will eventually develop diabetic retinopathy.
- Vision loss or blindness is preventable through early detection and timely treatment.
- Good control of diabetes and regular eye examinations (at least once every two years) can prevent vision loss.
- It is important to take action before you notice any eye problems.
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