What is diabetic retinopathy ?
Diabetic retinopathy, abbreviated DRP, or diabetic retinitis is the name for eye problems caused by (mistreated) diabetes. The name consists of three parts: Diabetes is the official name for diabetes, retinoid stores retina and pathy's disease. Diabetic retinopathy varies in severity, but can lead to blindness.
There are various forms of diabetic retinopathy:
-Exudative retinopathy wherein changing the walls of the blood vessels in the retina and leak blood and fluid.
-Proliferative retinopathy which new blood vessels are formed. These newly formed blood vessels are more fragile than normal blood vessels. This bleeding may occur. This is the most severe form of diabetic retinopathy and can lead to acute- blindness and visual impairment.
4-2-1 rule
Very serious NPDRP (non proliferative diabetic retinopathy) is characterized by:
-Severe retinal hemorrhages in four quadrants OR
-Venous bleeding in 2 or more quadrants OR
-Moderate to severe IRMA in one or more quadrants
IRMA = intraretinal microvascular abnormalities, dilated capillaries that form microshunts by ischemia of parts of the retina
Diabetic retinopathy treatment
Retinopathy can be treated with laser. Here the newly formed blood vessels are cauterized or only additional vulnerable vessels treated.
When bleeding into the vitreous, which are usually caused by abnormal blood vessels, a therapy with cold (cryotherapy) help to make the bleeding in the vitreous disappear. Also, there may be a vitrectomy be performed, which involves the removal of the vitreous.
Despite the fact that these complications can also occur when the diabetes is optimally treated, it is very important to regularly evaluate the diabetes treatment. In addition, in many people with diabetes each year, a study of the eye location, in order to detect at an early stage any problems. This research can be done by an ophthalmologist or optometrist or by a digital retinal camera, taking pictures remotely assessed by an ophthalmologist. Allows the formerly common blindness often be prevented.