The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Diabetic Retinopathy

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Nov 14, 2007
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Diabetic Retinopathy

Diabetic retinopathy is a highly specific retinal vascular complication that is related to the duration of diabetes and control of diabetes. That would mean longer the diabetes and poorer the control more is the chance of retinopathy.

The importance of Diabetic retinopathy lies in the fact that it is irreversible and barely treatable. Second, it results in a severe to complete vision loss in a high proportion of eyes. Third, because it is painless and largely symptom free till late stages, it progresses silently, undetected, lending a large dose of complacence in the patient..

Diabetic retinopathy isdivided into two classes, Non Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy (NPDR) and Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy (PDR). In the early stages are generally detectable only by the eye doctor save a few occasions when vision is reduced because of localized fluid accumulation in the retinal tissue called macular edema. The importance of this stage is that the disease identifiable to the doctor and further progress can be retarded if properly treated.

The more advanced stage, which is PDR interrupts patients life by frequent and prolonged vision loss which, later becomes permanent. Vitreous hemorrhage, which is leakage of blood into transparent portions of the eye results in hazy vision. The leaked blood from the new vessels which lack the integrity and strength of the normal vessels takes several months to clear sometimes requiring surgical removal called vitrectomy.

From NPDR stage onwards through PDR stage, the risk of vision loss is greatly increased compared to normal population. Various modes of treatment are available according to the clinical circumstances.

The chief modality is application of LASER photocoagulation treatment, to arrest the progress of the new vessel growth.

There are several other pharmacological agents that are being used (through injections into the core of the eye) to arrest or control the new vessel growth. Macular edema can be treated by laser or by steroid injection into the eye. patients should first undergo eye examinations regularly . Control the blood sugar energetically and maintain healthy life style.

Of all, it is possible to maintain vision of diabetics for long periods of time by regular eye examinations and immediate treatment of complications. Dr N Sirish Kumar, MD (AIIMS), DNB, FRCS Ed,

Senior Consultant – Optholmologist

MMHRC, Madurai.

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