What Is Diabetic Retinopathy? Stages, Symptoms, Risk Factors, Treatments And Prevention

Causes Of Diabetic Retinopathy

Diabetes is a chronic condition in which the glucose or sugar levels in the body gets high leading to various problems, including damage to small blood vessels.

Our eyes contain many microvessels or small vessels that help transport blood to its various parts. High glucose in blood vessels increases the blood pressure in these vessels leading to its narrowing, along with damage to its inner linings. [2]

As a result, the arteries respond by forming a plaque-like layer to fill the damage to the arteries, and leads to blockage in the tiny vessels that prevents the supply of blood to the eyes. Also, when the eyes try to grow new blood vessels, they do not grow properly leading to leakage problems. This results in diabetic retinopathy.

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Stages Of Diabetic Retinopathy

Diabetic retinopathy is classified into two main stages based on its progression:

1. Non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR)

It is the early stage of diabetic retinopathy and occurs in most diabetics. The NPDR is developed when the blood vessels supplying your retina (and eyes) get obstructed. This results in microaneurysms (minute bulges), haemorrhages and hard exudates formed all over the blocked vessels as they fail to push out the blood. The swelling and blockage of blood supply in the eyes result in blurred or poor vision. [3]

2. Proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR)

It is the advanced stage of diabetic retinopathy. Once the disease has progressed considerably and a large number of arteries are occluded, new vessels start to develop from these obstructed ones. Only, they are abnormal blood vessels and fail to supply the blood to the eyes properly, and instead leak blood and fluid into the clear jelly of the eyeball (the vitreous humour). This leads to dark floaters and then vision loss. [4]

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Symptoms Of Diabetic Retinopathy

Diabetic retinopathy develops over time. At an early stage, the patient may be asymptomatic and show symptoms only when the disease has progressed considerably.

Some of the symptoms of diabetic retinopathy include: [1]

• Blurred vision
• Fluctuating field of vision
• Floaters - dark strings/spots that float past your field of vision due to haemorrhaged blood in the vitreous humour of the eye.
• Colour blindness
• Poor night vision
• Blindness

Risk Factors Of Diabetic Retinopathy

Diabetes retinopathy can affect individuals with both diagnosed and undiagnosed diabetes mellitus. Its development is directly proportional to the age, duration, diabetic control and fluctuation of blood pressure in the patient.

Some of the risk factors of diabetic retinopathy include:

1. Age of the patient

The risk of developing diabetic retinopathy is considerably higher in older patients due to their age than adults or children. [5]

2. Status of blood sugar

People who have poorly controlled blood sugar are at a greater risk of developing the complications associated with diabetes, including diabetic eye disease.

3. Duration of diabetes

If a person has had diabetes for many years, they are at increased risk of the condition, compared to those who have developed recently. Sometimes, the duration of diabetes may vary as the condition remains undiagnosed in many due to late detection.

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4. High Blood Pressure

The body's blood vessels are not equipped to handle blood rushing through them under high pressure for long durations of time. That's why those who suffer from hypertension may often develop arterial complications, including diabetic retinopathy. [6]

5. High Cholesterol

Cholesterol plaques can clog the arteries supplying blood to the heart. They can even clog the arteries in the peripheries of your body, including the eyes causing diabetic retinopathy. [7]

6. Pregnancy

Pregnancy is the time period in which the fluctuations of hormones are hormones, including insulin hormones. Therefore, along with gestational diabetes, it may also lead to the development of diabetic retinopathy. [8]

7. Nephropathy

Diabetic retinopathy is common in 90 per cent of nephropathy patients who are above 20 years of age and with type 1 diabetes, says a study. [9]

8. Other factors

• Puberty
• Smoking [10]
• Inflammation
• Vitamin D
• Oxidative stress
• Genetic factors

Complications Of Diabetic Retinopathy

Untreated diabetic retinopathy can lead to problems like [11]

• Retinal detachment
• Glaucoma
• Vitreous haemorrhage
• blindness

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Diagnosis Of Diabetic Retinopathy

Diagnosis of the condition is carried out by dilated eye exam. First, the medical expert will put drops in the eyes to dilate your pupil and then will examine the inner portion of the eyes through the special lens. [12]

In case the doctor suspects of severe retinopathy, they may order for fluorescein angiography to examine the retina and see any signs of damage., blockage, leakage or abnormal growth of blood vessels. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is also suggested for examining the retina.

Treatments Of Diabetic Retinopathy

1. Anti-Angiogenic Therapy: It includes anti-VEGF drugs like pegaptanib and ranibizumab. It is linked to better visual outcomes than standard laser therapy. [13]
2. Anti-inflammatory therapy: It is suggested if the patient is not responding to anti=angiogenic drugs. It includes the usage of corticosteroids like dexamethasone and fluocinolone to target affected areas. [14]
3. Laser treatment: It helps alleviate swelling of the macula and reduces the risk of visual loss by 50 per cent in high-risk patients. [15]

How To Prevent Diabetic Retinopathy?

• Timely checkup of the status of your glucose levels to prevent its progression.
• Management of diabetes by proper exercise and diet and other lifestyle factors.
• Keeping blood pressure and cholesterol under control.
• Quitting smoking.
• Paying attention to other vision changes.
• Examining the other body parts such as the kidney.

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To Conclude

Diabetes retinopathy is a serious complication of diabetes and can cause permanent blindness in diabetics. Therefore, if you are a diabetic, manage your glucose levels to prevent this complication. Also, if you are a prediabetic or at risk of diabetes, consult a medical expert to understand how to prevent the condition.