Diabetic Retinopathy is a progressive process.
As diabetic retinopathy begins to progress, the retinal blood vessels continue to weaken and begin to narrow and close.
As the blood vessels close, they can no longer carry oxygen to the retinal tissue.
This results in a condition called Retinal Ischemia.
Retinal ischemia is characterized by the retina being deprived of sufficient oxygen and nutrients to maintain normal health and functioning.
Typically, the retina responds to ischemia by attempting to compensate for the reduced circulation by growing new, but abnormal blood vessels-a process called neovascularization.
The condition whereby retinal neovascularization exists is called proliferative diabetic retinopathy.
While new blood vessel growth or neovascularization might seem like a beneficial event, these new blood vessels are extremely fragile and tend to break easy and hemorrhage.
If left untreated, proliferative diabetic retinopathy will in fact result in hemorrhage that leads to scarring and ultimately to retinal detachment with profound vision loss.
Proliferative diabetic retinopathy is treated with either laser treatment or laser treatment in conjunction with a surgical procedure called a vitrectomy.
The retinal surgeon will perform a vitrectomy in order to remove the vitreous that has become filled with blood or scar tissue.
Sometimes it may be possible for patients to have proliferative diabetic retinopathy and neovascularization and yet still have good vision.
It is critical that in order to maintain that good vision the neovascularization be treated as quickly as possible even if it does appear to be causing any vision loss.
- Diabetic Eye Examinations
Patients with diabetes must be diligent and attentive to their eye care throughout their lives.
To preserve vision and attempt to avoid the complications of diabetic retinopathy, it is important for diabetic patients to have a comprehensive eye exam at least once a year to detect bllod vessel leakage and the presence of diabetic retinopathy in its earliest stages.
While “screening photographs”, even through a dilated pupil may be of some use, it is not a substitute for a comprehensive diabetic eye examination by an eye doctor.
Diabetic patients may also be more prone to other significant eye problems such as glaucoma and cataracts and thus a comprehensive eye examination is a necessity.
Depending on the severity and progression of diabetic retinopathy, it might be necessary to have an Intravenous Fluorescein Angiogram (IVF) on a regular basis in order to observe and record any changes to the retinal circulation.
In general, most insurance carriers endorse and pay for regular annual diabetic eye exams with Intravenous Fluorescein Angiography as often as needed in order to help patients preserve vision.
High quality diabetic eye care is an important event for all diabetic patients.
The American Diabetic Association (ADA) recommends yearly eye examinations for all diabetic patients.
Further, current research indicates that even patients who are glucose intolerant, but do not have a definitive diagnosis of diabetes are at risk of developing diabetic retinopathy and thus should have annual eye exams.
It is likely that in the future we will see the ADA recommendations modified to take this research into account.
ليست هناك تعليقات:
إرسال تعليق
ملحوظة: يمكن لأعضاء المدونة فقط إرسال تعليق.