Saturday, February, 11, 2012

Diabetic retinopathy

Table of Contents

Alternative Names

Retinopathy - diabetic; Photocoagulation - retina


Treatment

The following are very important for preventing diabetic retinopathy:

  • Tight control of blood sugar (glucose), blood pressure, and cholesterol
  • Stopping smoking

People with nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy may not need treatment. However, they should be closely followed-up by an eye doctor trained to treat diabetic retinopathy.

Treatment usually does not reverse damage that has already occurred, but it can help keep the disease from getting worse. Once your eye doctor notices new blood vessels growing in your retina (neovascularization) or you develop macular edema, treatment is usually needed.

Several procedures or surgeries are the main treatment for diabetic retinopathy.

Laser eye surgery creates small burns in the retina where there are abnormal blood vessels. This process is called photocoagulation. It is used to keep vessels from leaking or to get rid of abnormal, fragile vessels.

  • Focal laser photocoagulation is used to treat macular edema.
  • Scatter laser treatment or panretinal photocoagulation treats a large area of your retina. Often two or more sessions are needed.

A surgical procedure called vitrectomy is used when there is bleeding (hemorrhage) into the eye. It may also be used to repair retinal detachment.

Drugs that prevent abnormal blood vessels from growing, and corticosteroids injected into the eyeball are being investigated as new treatments for diabetic retinopathy.

If you cannot see well:

  • Make sure your home is safe so you do not fall
  • Organize your home so that you can easily find what you need
  • Get help to make sure you are taking your medicines correctly

See also:

  • Retinal detachment repair
  • Cataract removal

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Review Date: 04/27/2010
Reviewed By: Daniel E. Bustos, MD, MS, Private Practice specializing in Comprehensive Ophthalmology in Eugene, OR. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)