DIABETIC RETINOPATHY

Diabetes mellitus is on the rise all over the world. In India, more than 60 million people are suffering from it. One of the most dreaded ocular complications of diabetes includes Diabetic Retinopathy (DR) which is a major cause of avoidable blindness.

Around 15-20% of the diabetic population develops Diabetic Retinopathy. Diabetes causes thinning and subsequent leaking of retinal blood vessels.

Thus, these deformations are accompanied by haemorrhage, oedema and tractional retinal detachment, leading to the loss of vision. At initial stage, patients  will not show any symptoms and they will have perfect vision even though there would be bleeding and swelling of the retina. It is treatable at this stage, so it is crucial to get retinal examination at regular interval.

The choice of treatment depends on the stage of the disease, the age of the patient, and the recommendations of the retina specialist. Based on the results of the tests, retina specialists suggest different treatment modalities like laser photocoagulation, intra-vitreal injections, and vitrectomy.