of the small blood vessels in your retina which are caused by diabetes. Weakening of the
blood vessel walls or leakage from the blood vessels are two examples of diabetic
retinopathy. A person starts with non-proliferative (background retinopathy) and it
progresses to proliferative retinopathy.
Non-proliferative retinopathy is a mild form that does not usually interfere with a
persons vision. Problems are usually limited to the retina and will only interfere with your
vision if the macula is involved. The macula is the area on the retina that gives us our
sharpest vision. If this disease is left untreated it progresses into proliferative retinopathy.
Proliferative-retinopathy is more serious. This happens when new blood vessels
infiltrate in and around the retina. It causes bleeding into the fluid-filled center of your
eyeball, which can cause swelling of the retina which leads to blindness.
Some statistics about diabetic retinopathy are:
1. Nearly all Type 1 diabetics who have it for about 20 years will show
evidence of diabetic retinopathy.
2. Approximately 21% of Type 2 diabetics have retinopathy when they are
diagnosed and the rest will most likely develop some form of retinopathy
in the future.
3. Diabetes is responsible for 8% of the legal blindness cases in the United
States. This makes it the leading cause of new cases of blindness in
people between the ages of 20-74. Between 12,000 to 24,000 people lose
their sight because of diabetes each year.
4. Cataracts, corneal disease, and glaucoma are more common in diabetics and
contribute to the high rate of blindness.
Other things you can do to keep yourself healthy is to keep your health care team aware of
all your health situations. Keep yourself informed of about your diseases. People who are
keep themselves educated take better care of themselves in the long run. Smokers should
stop smoking and overweight people should lose weight by developing a better diet and
adding exercise to their daily regimen.
Diabetic retinopathy is the major cause of blindness
in diabetics. This is the term used for abnormalities
in diabetics. This is the term used for abnormalities
By: Donna Yancy
So how can diabetics help prevent vision
problems???
Good control of your blood glucose levels, a
healthy diet and good eye care.
In a 10-year study done with type 1 diabetics, it
was found that good blood glucose control
prevents and/or delays diabetic retinopathy. It
was shown to reduce damage to the eyes by
76%.
problems???
Good control of your blood glucose levels, a
healthy diet and good eye care.
In a 10-year study done with type 1 diabetics, it
was found that good blood glucose control
prevents and/or delays diabetic retinopathy. It
was shown to reduce damage to the eyes by
76%.
Regular checkups with your eye doctor are very important because you can have
retinopathy and not know it. Your eye doctor can detect retinopathy early and possibly
prevent blindness.
People with type 1 should see their eye doctor annually for a dilated eye exam beginning
5 years after onset of diabetes. Women with type 1 who are pregnant need to have an
eye exam during the first trimester and close follow-up exams throughout their pregnancy.
People with type 2 should see the eye doctor annually for a dilated exam and immediately
after diagnosis.
retinopathy and not know it. Your eye doctor can detect retinopathy early and possibly
prevent blindness.
People with type 1 should see their eye doctor annually for a dilated eye exam beginning
5 years after onset of diabetes. Women with type 1 who are pregnant need to have an
eye exam during the first trimester and close follow-up exams throughout their pregnancy.
People with type 2 should see the eye doctor annually for a dilated exam and immediately
after diagnosis.
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4th Edition-Nov 2005
