Patient Education
Diabetic Retinopathy
Diabetic retinopathy is a diabetes-related complication that damages the blood vessels inside the retina. Over time, high blood sugar weakens retinal vessels, causing them to leak, swell, or grow abnormally.
Typical Symptoms
- Blurry or fluctuating vision
- Floaters (spots or dark strings drifting across vision)
- Dark or empty areas in your vision
- Difficulty with color perception
- Vision loss (in advanced stages)
- No symptoms at all in early stages
How It's Diagnosed
Dilated Eye Exam
The most important test. Your doctor looks for leaking blood vessels, swelling, and new vessel growth after your pupils are dilated.
OCT (Optical Coherence Tomography)
Detailed retinal scans that detect macular swelling (diabetic macular edema) — a common cause of vision loss in diabetic patients.
Fluorescein Angiography
Dye-based imaging that maps blood flow, revealing leaking vessels and areas of poor circulation.
OCT-Angiography
A newer, dye-free technique that shows the blood vessel network in the retina in fine detail.
How It Affects Vision
Early diabetic retinopathy often causes no symptoms, which is why regular screening is critical. As the disease progresses, macular swelling can cause blurry central vision. Advanced proliferative diabetic retinopathy — where new, fragile blood vessels grow — can cause severe vision loss from bleeding inside the eye or retinal detachment.
Treatment Options
Anti-VEGF Injections
Injections into the eye reduce macular swelling and block abnormal vessel growth. These are often the first-line treatment for diabetic macular edema.
Laser Treatment
Focal laser therapy seals leaking blood vessels; panretinal photocoagulation (PRP) treats widespread abnormal vessel growth by targeting the peripheral retina.
Vitrectomy
A surgical procedure to remove blood or scar tissue from the eye in advanced cases with persistent bleeding or traction on the retina.
Blood Sugar & Blood Pressure Control
The most important long-term treatment. Keeping your A1C, blood pressure, and cholesterol well-controlled dramatically slows progression.
When to Seek Urgent Care
Seek urgent care if you experience a sudden shower of floaters, a dark curtain or shadow across your vision, or sudden vision loss. These can indicate bleeding inside the eye or retinal detachment — both require prompt evaluation.
Call us: 210-615-7600