Diabetic Retinopathy
Diabetic Retinopathy is a complication of diabetes. Diabetes can cause the walls of the tiny blood vessels in the retina to become thin. Eventually the weakened blood vessels leak fluid and blood into the retina, causing serious vision loss. This condition usually affects both eyes.
Symptoms can include cloudy, blurred or distorted vision, pain in one or both eyes, sensitivity to light and glare, difficulty with night vision and loss of balance.
People with long term diabetes are most at risk, especially if their sugar control is poor, they have high blood pressure, high cholesterol or kidney damage. Proper management can slow or prevent vision loss. Treatment involves regular monitoring and good sugar, blood pressure and cholesterol control. Medication to reduce swelling, injections and laser are other treatments that may be used.
We recommend that people with diabetes have an annual eye examination where dilating eye drops will be administered and the condition monitored.
We recommend that people with diabetes have an annual eye examination where dilating eye drops will be administered and the condition monitored.