| In diabetic retinopathy, the capillaries or small blood | | | | Diabetic retinopathy can happen to anyone who |
| vessels in the retina become weak. The way | | | | has type 1 or type 2 diabetes, and who: |
| retinopathy advances in type 1 and type 2 | | | | - has poor blood sugar control |
| diabetes is slightly different but is the most | | | | - has high blood pressure |
| common cause of visual loss in our working | | | | - has high cholesterol levels |
| population. Approximately two per cent of the | | | | - who smokes (smoking damages blood vessels |
| diabetic community become blind but due to | | | | and diabetes eye disease is a blood vessel |
| advances with screening and laser treatment, this | | | | problem; smoking aggravates the problem) |
| figure is likely to reduce. | | | | Early detection is your best protection... it is |
| Retinopathy: | | | | important to have frequent eye examinations. |
| - does not usually occur until diabetes has been | | | | This way, eye disease can be detected before it |
| present for more than five years | | | | affects your vision permanently. |
| - will be obvious in almost everyone who has | | | | Is there an effective treatment available for |
| diabetes for more than twenty years | | | | diabetic retinopathy? |
| - is usually evident when type 2 is diagnosed due | | | | A procedure known as laser photocoagulation can |
| to the delay in diagnosis of type 2 diabetes | | | | prevent blindness in 90% of patients. This |
| Why does diabetes affect your eyes? | | | | procedure can burn and seal off the damaged |
| Current research indicates that the excess blood | | | | blood vessels, which stops them from bleeding. In |
| sugar directly damages your eyes, mostly by | | | | the early stages of eye disease this procedure |
| affecting the lining of blood vessels carrying blood | | | | can restore your vision within approximately six |
| to the retina, which is the light-sensitive layer of | | | | months. In many cases however, laser surgery |
| tissues at the back of your eyes. The damage to | | | | only slows down vision loss rather than restoring |
| these vessels appears to be directly related to | | | | it. So with treatment your vision will stay the |
| how high your blood sugar is and for how long. | | | | same, without treatment it will get worse. |
| Symptoms: | | | | In type 2 diabetes, eye disease is often diagnosed |
| In the early stages of diabetes eye disease, there | | | | before the diabetes. In other words many people |
| are no symptoms which is why you need to have | | | | don't know they have type 2 diabetes until their |
| a thorough eye examination every twelve | | | | ophthalmologist notices tiny red dots which are |
| months. As eye damage progresses you may | | | | signs of bleeding or "cotton wool spots" on the |
| notice: | | | | retina. |
| - poor night vision | | | | If you have undiagnosed type 2 diabetes, you |
| - vision loss | | | | could have early signs of diabetes eye disease. if |
| - blurred vision | | | | you are newly diagnosed with type 2, go to an |
| - spots or floaters in your vision | | | | ophthalmologist for a complete examination and |
| - shadows or missing vision areas | | | | then have a yearly follow-up. |