A patient with diabetes is at an increased risk to develop eye disease that can cause vision loss and blindness, such as diabetic retinopathy, cataract, and glaucoma. These and other serious conditions often develop without vision loss or pain, so significant damage may be done to the eyes by the time the patient notices any visual symptoms. For this reason, it is very important for diabetic patients to have a dilated eye examination at least once a year. Diagnosing and treating diabetic eye disease may help to prevent vision loss. It is also important for a diabetic patient to maintain well controlled blood sugar, blood pressure, and serum lipids and cholesterol, take prescribed medications, exercise regularly, and avoid smoking.

Diabetic Retinopathy

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Diabetic retinopathy is a potentially blinding complication of diabetes mellitus resulting from high sustained levels of blood sugar and sugar byproducts that cause abnormalities within the walls of the tiny blood vessels that nourish the retina. These blood vessels may leak fluid and proteins resulting in swelling of the retina. The fragile capillary bed of the retina may wither and close up resulting in diminished and sometimes absent blood supply. This results in a condition known as ischemia which may also cause an irreversible loss of vision.

	Proliferative Retinopathy

There are two stages of diabetic retinopathy: nonproliferative or background retinopathy, and proliferative retinopathy. The background stage of diabetic retinopathy is an earlier stage of the disease. Vision loss may result from swelling or ischemia of the macula, which is the central portion of the retina responsible for our central reading vision. Proliferative retinopathy is a later, more severe form of the disease. New abnormal blood vessel and scar tissue growth may result in catastrophic loss of vision secondary to bleeding within the eye or retinal detachment.

The clinical nature of the disease will determine the type of treatment recommended by Dr. Cohen and Dr. Kanter. Focal laser surgery (photocoagulation) may be indicated in patients who have clinically significant macular edema (CSME) -- a specific level of retinal swelling first recognized to be potentially detrimental to vision in a study sponsored by the National Eye Institute. Laser photocoagulation works by helping to "dry up" the swollen retina, thus reducing the chance of progressive vision loss from the disease. Retina Vitreous Consultants is investigating the potential use of medications injected directly into the eye to achieve many of the visual benefits found in conventional laser surgery without some of the potential untoward effects.

Patients suffering from proliferative diabetic retinopathy benefit from the more aggressive pan retinal photocoagulation (PRP). Regression of abnormal blood vessel growth and reduction of the potential for intraocular bleeding and scar tissue formation may result from PRP.

Diabetic vision loss secondary to blood or scar tissue within the eye or retinal detachment may be remedied by intraocular surgery. Vitrectomy surgery may be performed to drain blood, remove retinal scar tissue, reattach previously detached retina, and help to rehabilitate vision once impaired by diabetic eye disease.

The very best advice for any diabetic patient in helping to minimize the risk for vision loss from the disease is prevention, early detection, and prompt intervention. Patients may be completely visually asymptomatic even with moderate to severe forms of diabetic retinopathy. Careful monitoring, as recommended by your physician, will be beneficial to the diabetic patient in maintaining a good level of visual function.

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