Diabetic retinopathy is retinal damage caused by prolonged high blood sugar from diabetes, which can lead to blindness. It typically affects both eyes and may have no symptoms until vision loss occurs, making annual eye exams crucial for prevention. While there is no cure, treatments like laser therapy and anti-VEGF injections can help manage the condition and prevent further vision loss.

1. Diabetic Retinopathy

2. Diabetic Retinopathy
Diabetic retinopathy is damage to the retina caused due to complications arising from
diabetes. This may eventually lead to blindness. Diabetic retinopathy affects those with
high blood sugar over a prolonged period of time. Too much blood sugar can destroy the
blood vessels located at the back of the eye, preventing the retina from receiving the
much needed nutrients to maintain vision.
In some with prolonged diabetic retinopathy, the blood vessels may swell and leak fluid;
while in others abnormal new blood vessels may grow on the surface of the retina
causing the light‐sensitive tissue to gradually lose vision. Contrary to belief, diabetic
retinopathy generally affects both the eyes.
What one needs to do to prevent vision loss
If you have diabetes then make sure you take the following steps:
• Get a comprehensive eye exam done at least once a year without fail.
• Proliferative retinopathy can develop without any symptom; make sure you
reduce the high risk of developing blindness by getting a complete eye exam.
You can get these tests done at Apollo Sugar and discuss your case with our healthcare
experts to prevent vision loss due to this condition.
Symptoms of Diabetic Retinopathy
Often there are no marked symptoms for diabetic retinopathy nor does the patient
suffer any pain. It is best if one sees an eye care professional if the following occur:
• Loss of central vision when reading or driving
• Inability to determine the correct colour
• Blurriness of vision
• Small floaters or spots may also indicate blood vessel leaks
• These leaks may clear up in days, weeks, or even months, but it is imperative that
one undergoes that eye exam without much delay if they experience any of these
symptoms.
Treatment of diabetic retinopathy
There is generally no cure for diabetic retinopathy but given below are the forms of
treatment usually preferred by doctors:
• Laser treatment ‐ The usual form of treatment suggested by doctors,which is
very effective at preventing vision loss if done before too much of the retina is
damaged.
• Surgical removal of vitreous gel‐ This could also help a lot if the retina isn’t
damaged much.

3. • Anti­VEGF
Injections‐ These help in shrinking the new blood vessels developed
during proliferative retinopathy.
These treatments have proved to be effective in delaying, preventing or reducing vision
loss. But these are NOT a cure for diabetic retinopathy. Controlling the blood sugar
levels should be on the highest priority list. This becomes all the more important to
keep the retinopathy from worsening.

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