DİABETİC RETİNOPATHY

CHELTENHAM EYE UNİT

This leaflet sets out to answer some of the most common questions asked by patients.We hope you will find it helpful.

WHAT İS DİABETİC RETİNOPATHY

In a few diabetics changes ocur in the blood vessels supplying the light sensitive tissue (the retina ) which lines the inner surface of the back of the eye.If the retina becomes several damaged then loss of vision will occur  which may not be reversible by teratment.The disturbances are of two main type:

1-      The small vessels become leaky so that surrounding retina becomes waterlogged and does not function properly .This leads to eventual loss of central vision .Faces cannot be recognised, reading is difficult, but geting about at home is possible.

2-      Abnormal  new vessels develop which may bleed into the eye causing severe reduction or complete loss of sight. 

WHAT SHOULD DİABETİCS DO TO CARE FOR THEİR EYES?

The retnal changes when they first ocur cause no aparent visual problems teherefore all adults with diabetes should have regular eye checks.

As children  and young people with insulin dependant diabetes do not develop changes in their retina during the first three years following the onset of their diabetes , examination is not necessary during this period.

WHO SHOULD PERFORM EYE CHECKS?

Many general practitioners and medical staff of hospital diabetic clinics carry out check on diabetic patients coming under their care routinely .Registered ophthalmic opticians (optometrists) we also provide this service.

WHİCH DİABETİCS ARE LİKELY TO GET SİGHT TREATENİNG CHANGES?

This is impossible to say.Even diabetics who carefully control their diabetes may develop sight threatening changes butgood control appears to reduce the risk.The risk of visual disturbances increases with the length of time the disease has been present.

With young people the start of the disease can usually be determined precisely.However, with diabetics diagnosed in middle age or later , diabetes may have passed unrecognised for many years.

WHAT TREATMENT WİLL BE GİVEN?

In individuals where retinal changes are confirmed, treatment with a laser as a hospital out-patient is effective in bringing the situation under control in well over 60% of cases. This treatment is normally painless and individuals receiving therapy can usually return to their own occupation the following day.

All patients who have received laser treatment need to continue to attend an Eye Hospital clinic as laser therapy does not cure  the basic problem .Months or even years later further treatment may be necessary.

WHAT HAPPENS İF REGULAR EYE CHECKS ARE FORGOTTEN?

You may be one of the diabetics who develop sight threatment  changes.By the time that you yourself are aware of visual problems the disease could well have progressed to stage where treatment is difficult or impossible.

A regular eye check every year for diabetics is never a waste of time and will give you the best chance of preserving your sight.

If you have any queries about your teratment which are not covered by this leaflet please ask any member of the medical or nursing staff.