Diabetic Retinopathy
Diabetic Retinopathy Treatment
Diabetic retinopathy is a common complication of diabetes. Diabetic retinopathy affects the retina, which is a layer of tissue which lines the inside wall of the eye like a bladder of a soccer ball. The retina acts like a film in a camera. It detects the light that is focused by the eye and sends the image from the eye to the brain.
In diabetic retinopathy, prolonged elevated blood sugar levels damage the very small blood vessels that supply the retina. As a result of this these blood vessels can start to bleed and leak
fluid. As time progresses, abnormal blood vessels can develop which can bleed and cause blindness if not treated.
Several treatments for diabetic retinopathy exist. The most important of these are controlling blood sugar levels (BSLs). The target of sugar control is to have a HbA1c of less than 7%. It is also important to ensure that blood pressure and cholesterol are well controlled.
Intravitreal injections are frequently used in the treatment of diabetic retinopathy. In such cases, a drug is injected into the inside of the eye (vitreous). This drug then acts to help damaged blood vessels recover and to stop leaking and bleeding.
