Diabetic retinopathy, a disease that can cause irreversible vision loss

The Dra. Devesa is a specialist of the ophthalmological clinic Oftalvist of Alicante. The doctor is an expert in pathologies such as diabetic retinopathy, eye disease, which she talks about in this article.

Diabetic retinopathy is the disease produced in the retina that appears more frequently and affects more patients. Its origin is when there is damage to the vessels of the retina caused by altered glucose metabolism.

Causes and symptoms of diabetic retinopathy

Diabetic patients have a serious risk that the vascular permeability will be altered and that the fluid inside the vessels will pass to the extracellular exterior. If this occurs, it can lead to edema, hemorrhages and even other alterations in the retina.

Manifestations (or symptoms of the disease) may not appear. This can happen to the point of reaching serious harm without the need to present any symptoms. Other more obvious that may appear are blurred vision, see spots or black shadows and suffer the vision of flying flies .

Treatment of diabetic retinopathy

Diabetic patients must strictly control their glucose level , in addition to blood pressure and blood lipids. Sedentary lifestyle, obesity and tobacco should also be controlled.

An annual review is also required in diabetic patients who have not yet been diagnosed with retinopathy. When the disease occurs, depending always on the degree and involvement, specialists have different therapeutic options to apply to the affected, such as laser, vitreous injections and vitrectomy .

The treatment, as in the rest of diseases, is basic for an optimal and desired recovery. In this particular case of retinopathy, not treating it can lead to an irreversible loss of vision .