Diabetic Retinopathy

Diabetic Retinopathy

Diabetic eye disease is a spectrum of eye diseases – retinopathy, cataract, glaucoma - caused by diabetes. Among these diabetic retinopathy is the most vision-threatening and will be dealt with in detail here.

Submitted by charu gupta on 1 June 2014

What is it

Diabetic retinopathy refers to all disorders of the retina caused by diabetes. There is a high incidence of blindness with diabetes. According to Diabetes Care Journal, American Diabetes Association, there are approximately 93 million people with diabetic retinopathy, 17 million with proliferative diabetic retinopathy, 21 million with diabetic macular edema, and 28 million with vision-threatening diabetic retinopathy (VTDR) worldwide. Diabetic retinopathy usually affects both eyes.

Diabetic retinopathy and its impact
Diabetic retinopathy refers to changes in the blood vessels of the retina. In some cases, blood vessels may swell and leak fluid, while in other cases, new fragile abnormal blood vessels grow on the retinal surface or on the optic nerve. A healthy retina is critical for good vision and the above mentioned changes have a negative impact on eyesight.

Stories

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