Types of Diabetic Retinopathy
There are two main types of diabetic retinopathy:
NPDR (Nonproliferative Diabetes-Related Retinotherapy)
This is an early disease stage where an individual’s blood vessels leak in the retina. This leads to fluid, lipid deposition, or hemorrhages in the eye. These blood vessels close with time, which leads to ischemia or poor blood flow to the retina.
PDR (Proliferative Diabetes-Related Retinopathy)
As the disease worsens, the body tries to compensate for poor blood flow by growing new, abnormal blood vessels. However, these vessels are weak and can leak blood into the vitreous, the gel-like substance inside the eye. This can cause damage to the retina and, in severe cases, lead to major vision loss.
Symptoms Related to Diabetic Retinopathy
People who have diabetic retinopathy have a hard time noticing it. This is because it usually has no symptoms in the early stages. But when diabetic retinopathy gets worse, you will start to notice symptoms such as:
- Increase in the number of floaters
- Blurry vision
- Changes in blurry vision to clear vision
- Black or dark areas in the field of vision
- Poor night vision
- Faded or washed-out colors
- Loss of vision
How is Diabetic Retinopathy Diagnosed?
A diabetic eye exam is taken to diagnose diabetic retinopathy. An optometrist will examine your eyes and probably use eye drops to see the back of your eye more clearly. After checking, they take a photo of the back of your eye.
The Best Time to Seek Professional Help
Diabetic retinopathy during the early stages does not show any major symptoms. Professionals in this field recommend that people with diabetes need to get themselves checked. This can be done with the help of an eye exam, which an eye health expert can evaluate. This eye exam lets the expert have a deeper look into the anatomy of the eye to survey it for damage.
You must look out for the initial signs of diabetic retinopathy. Spots, flashes, and streaks or flashes of light left in your vision mean you must immediately check with a provider, regardless of whether the symptoms are fleeting. These signs indicate that the blood vessels have leaked in the retina and can harm your eye.
It’s important to treat diabetic retinopathy as soon as possible. If not, it continues to damage your eye. If left untreated, it causes other eye conditions such as neovascular glaucoma, diabetic macular edema, and retinal detachment. Getting routine eye exams and quality care can help prevent them.
Final Takeaway
Although diabetes doesn’t exactly lead to vision loss, managing it goes a long way in preventing further complications. At Bharmal Internal Medicine, we provide lasting and quality procedures to help you maintain your overall health. You can contact us at (817) 784-0052.