1. What is Diabetic Retinopathy?

Diabetes can have many effects upon the eye, some of which may be transient, others more deep-seated and permanent. In most cases these conditions are of less significance if the underlying diabetes is under good control.

Temporary blurring of vision is quite usual during the early stages of controlling diabetes, as the crystalline lens within the eye becomes swollen for a short time.

Diabetes will also cause changes to the lens resulting in an increased incidence of cataract. However simple extraction and implant surgery will usually resolve any visual discomfort.

Diabetic Retinopathy is a more critical eye condition that affects the retina and can lead to severe visual impairment. Many long-term diabetics have a degree of non-vision threatening background diabetic retinopathy but this is rarely cause for any serious concern.

There are however two types of Diabetic Retinopathy that can damage sight:

Maculopathy
In which blood vessels in the retina begin to leak.

Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy
Diabetes causes existing blood vessels in the retina to become blocked and the body attempts to repair the damage by forming new vessels within the retina. Unfortunately the new vessels are very weak and often develop in the wrong place.

Subsequent leaking of the vessels results in the formation of scar tissue that pulls and distorts the retina. If this pulling is allowed to persist there is a very real risk of a retinal detachment.

2. What will happen to my sight?

Maculopathy
In situations where the macula is affected there is usually a gradual loss of the central vision. Otherwise there is usually just loss of part of the visual field.

Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy
There is little visual disturbance due to the new blood vessels. However vision tends to become blurred and patchy as the effects of the bleeding and retinal detachments become more relevant.

3. Is there a cure for Diabetic Retinopathy?

The majority of sight threatening problems associated with diabetes can be prevented by early intervention.

Principal amongst these treatments, other than the proper control of the underlying diabetes, is laser treatment. Whilst not actually curing the condition, lasers can be used to save remaining sight by sealing any leaking blood vessels. Lasers cannot reverse damage caused by retinal detachments but can significantly reduce the occurrence of new blood vessels.

4. Will I go blind?

There is a very real risk of total blindness in the case of untreated proliferative diabetic retinopathy.

This risk is significantly reduced by early detection of the condition and treatment or control. Consequently once the diagnosis of diabetes has been confirmed it is important to maintain regular visits to either the diabetic clinician or your eye care professional.

Total blindness is extremely rare in the case of Maculopathy

5. How can I help myself?

As already stated there is no reason why diabetes should cause severe vision impairment if the diabetes is under control and the sufferer is attending regular visits of both their eye care professional and diabetic clinician.

In the event of their being some visual impairment a good, directional non-glare light source, when attempting any near visual task, should always be considered.

Techniques such as Sensory Substitution and Eccentric Viewing may be useful, depending on the location of any visual field losses. Similarly the use of Magnifying Devices and other Non Optical Devices can prove to be of great benefit.