What makes diabetic retinopathy worse

The exam is simple and painless — your doctor will give you some eye drops to dilate widen your pupil and then check your eyes for diabetic retinopathy and other eye problems. If you do develop diabetic retinopathy, early treatment can stop the damage and prevent blindness. If your eye doctor thinks you may have severe diabetic retinopathy or DME, they may do a test called a fluorescein angiogram.

This test lets the doctor see pictures of the blood vessels in your retina. Managing your diabetes is the best way to lower your risk of diabetic retinopathy. That means keeping your blood sugar levels in a healthy range.

This test shows your average blood sugar level over the past 3 months. You can work with your doctor to set a personal A1C goal. Meeting your A1C goal can help prevent or manage diabetic retinopathy. Having high blood pressure or high cholesterol along with diabetes increases your risk for diabetic retinopathy.

So controlling your blood pressure and cholesterol can also help lower your risk for vision loss. In the early stages of diabetic retinopathy, your eye doctor will probably just keep track of how your eyes are doing.

Some people with diabetic retinopathy may need a comprehensive dilated eye exam as often as every 2 to 4 months. Medicines called anti-VEGF drugs can slow down or reverse diabetic retinopathy. Other medicines, called corticosteroids, can also help.

Learn more about injections to treat diabetic retinopathy. Laser treatment. To reduce swelling in your retina, eye doctors can use lasers to make the blood vessels shrink and stop leaking.

Learn more about laser treatment for diabetic retinopathy. Eye surgery. If your retina is bleeding a lot or you have a lot of scars in your eye, your eye doctor may recommend a type of surgery called a vitrectomy.

Learn more about vitrectomy. Scientists are studying better ways to find, treat, and prevent vision loss in people with diabetes. One NIH-funded research team is studying whether a cholesterol medicine called fenofibrate can stop diabetic retinopathy from getting worse. Search the site. Print this Page. Diabetic Retinopathy. On this page:. At a glance: Diabetic Retinopathy Early Symptoms:. These symptoms don't necessarily mean you have diabetic retinopathy, but it's important to get them checked out.

Don't wait until your next screening appointment. The screening test involves examining the back of the eyes and taking photographs. Depending on your result, you may be advised to return for another appointment a year later, attend more regular appointments, or discuss treatment options with a specialist. You can reduce your risk of developing diabetic retinopathy, or help prevent it getting worse, by:.

Read more about how to prevent diabetic retinopathy. Treatment for diabetic retinopathy is only necessary if screening detects significant problems that mean your vision is at risk. If the condition hasn't reached this stage, the above advice on managing your diabetes is recommended. Read more about the treatment of diabetic retinopathy. Page last reviewed: 30 October Next review due: 30 October To minimise the risk of this happening, people with diabetes should: ensure they control their blood sugar levels, blood pressure and cholesterol attend diabetic eye screening appointments — annual screening is offered to all people with diabetes aged 12 and over to pick up and treat any problems early on How diabetes can affect the eyes The retina is the light-sensitive layer of cells at the back of the eye that converts light into electrical signals.

Small spots may appear in the visual field for a few weeks after the procedure. Laser treatment comes with certain risks, such as a loss of peripheral vision, color vision, and night vision. A person can talk to their doctor about the relative benefits and risks of this treatment.

Certain medicines can reduce swelling and minimize leakage from blood vessels in the eyes. Medicines may include anti-VEGF drugs and corticosteroids. People may need to get regular injections, but over time, they usually require injections less frequently. If a person has problems with the retina or vitreous, they may benefit from a vitrectomy. This procedure is the removal of some of the vitreous from the eye.

The aim is to replace cloudy vitreous or blood to improve vision and to help the doctor find and repair any sources of retinal bleeding. After removing the cloudy or bloody vitreous, the surgeon will insert a clear liquid or gas in its place. The body will absorb the liquid or gas over time and create new vitreous in its place. After the surgery, the person will usually need to wear an eye patch for about a day and use eye drops to reduce swelling and prevent infections.

If the doctor puts a gas bubble in the eye, the person will need to hold their head in a certain position for a few days or weeks to make sure that the bubble stays in the right place. They will also need to avoid flying and visiting places at high altitudes until the bubble goes away. Surgery is not a cure for diabetic retinopathy, but it may stop or slow the progression of symptoms. Diabetes is a long-term condition, and subsequent retinal damage and vision loss may still occur despite treatment.

High blood pressure, or hypertension , is another contributing factor. People with diabetes can take steps to control their blood pressure , such as:. Diabetic retinopathy is an eye condition that affects people with diabetes. Without treatment, it can cause complications that include vision loss. Having a comprehensive dilated eye exam at least once a year can help a person catch the condition early to prevent complications.

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What is diabetic retinopathy?