Diabetic retinopathy is a complex disease to manage.
It is a complication that affects the eyes of diabetic patients. It occurs when blood vessels of the retina are damaged by diabetes. Initially, you may experience none to mild symptoms; however, if left untreated, it can cause blindness. Symptoms can include:
- Spots or floaters in your vision
- Blurred or fluctuating vision
- Colour vision impairment
- Dark or empty areas in your vision
- Loss of vision
The basis of any treatment involves good systemic glycemic control, in addition to good control of any systemic vascular risk factors including blood pressure, cholesterol/lipids, uric acid level control, and stopping smoking.
Depending on the ophthalmic findings, your attending physician will recommend a combination of laser photocoagulation, intravitreal anti-VEGF agents and in certain cases surgery may be required.
