Can diabetic retinopathy be reversed?

What is diabetic retinopathy, and what are the causes and different stages of the eye-affecting condition? Here to answer these questions and more is revered consultant ophthalmologist, Ms Yvonne Luo.

What is diabetic retinopathy?

It is a condition that affects the retina as a direct result of diabetes. If you think of your eye like a camera: you've got your lens at the front, and the film at the back. The retina equates to the camera's film (at the back of the eye).

In diabetes, unfortunately, because of a high sugar level in your bloodstream, the tiny blood vessels that supply nutrients to the retina are either blocked or damaged. This is essentially what diabetic retinopathy is, damage caused to the retina as a result of inadequate blood supply to all parts of the retina.

What causes diabetic retinopathy?

The main causes of diabetic retinopathy are mainly related to one's blood sugar level. The main causes include:

• high sugar levels
• swelling of the retina

What are the stages of diabetic retinopathy?

In the initial stage, patients show hardly any symptoms. However, as the disease progresses, we start to typically see a few haemorrhages. This is the stage where the patient starts to experience more and more damage to the retina, which can be seen through influcted nerve tissue, which presents itself as white spots on the retina.

The next stage sees the patient grow new blood vessels. Unfortunately, these new vessels that have been formed do not function properly. Instead of supplying nutrients to the retina, they actually leak and bleed a lot. Scarring and retinal detachment can be experienced in the final stage of the condition.

How is diabetic retinopathy treated?

Patients will be encouraged to control their blood pressure, as well as their blood sugar levels and cholesterol. Once patients start to show symptoms, the first line of treatment is laser treatment. Patients can also receive ongoing injections into the retina.

If, despite all of this treatment, the patient continues to experience bleeding, surgery will be required.

Can you reverse diabetic retinopathy?

It really depends on the stage of the disease. it is certainly reversible in the early stages. Patients need to bear in mind that injections, while having the ability to slow down the progression of the disease, are not long-term forms of treatment.

Ms Yvonne Luo is a highly regarded and experienced consultant ophthalmologist who specialises in diabetic retinopathy, amongst many other eye-related conditions. Consult with her today and make an appointment with her via her Top Doctors profile.