The retina is one of the most important parts of the human eye.
The retina is the light sensitive tissue which lines the inside of the eye. Light enters the eye and is focused on the eye. The retina translates these images to our brain and produces vision.
The retina is part of the central nervous system.
Diabetic retinopathy is the eye disease caused by diabetes and occurs in virtually every patient…regardless of sugar control.
This is the most common “complication” of diabetic retinopathy. Normal retinal blood vessels start to leak fluid and blood into the surrounding retina. If this leakage is concentrated near or in the macula, vision may be threatened. Treatment are aimed at reducing the macular sweling.
This is the potentially blinding stage of diabetic retinopathy. While it occurs in a minority of patients with diabetes, proliferative diabetic retinopathy can blind by causing bleeding, retinal detachment or neovascular glaucoma.
Severe vision loss can be prevented with timely and regular eye examinations. Every patient with diabetes should be examined at least annually…even if you feel your vision is perfect.
Identification and early treatment of diabetic retinopathy is the key to preventing blindness over your lifetime.
At The Eye Professionals, we have a Board certified retinal specialists who can monitor and treat patients with diabetic retinopathy.