Can Diabetic Retinopathy Be Reversed?
The longer an individual has diabetes, the greater their chance of developing diabetic retinopathy. While controlled blood sugar levels can slow the onset and progression, it is a severe complication that will eventually cause loss of sight if left untreated.
And unfortunately, there is no way to reverse or cure diabetic retinopathy. The best way to help prevent and lessen the potential symptoms of vision loss from PDR is with careful management of diabetes and early detection.
For those with diabetes, it is essential to be aware of the symptoms and risk factors tied to this particular condition. Not all diabetics will develop diabetic retinopathy. But as with most eye diseases, early detection allows for treatment that can delay severe damage to eyesight.
Symptoms of Diabetic Retinopathy
Diabetic Retinopathy has two distinct stages. In the first and most common stage, non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR), blood vessels in the retina become weakened enough to cause blood and fluid leakage into the surrounding tissue. This leakage causes scar tissue and loss of vision.
You may not notice any symptoms in the very earliest stages of the disease. As the NPDR advances, you may begin to see warning signs and symptoms during the early onset of the disease, including but not limited to the following:
- Slight blurriness in your vision
- Difficulty focusing on fine details
- Trouble differentiating differences in color
- Floaters (dark spots or strings that move around)
The damage caused to blood vessels and swelling of the eye during the first stage of diabetic retinopathy decreases circulation and slowly deprives the retina of oxygen. The second, advanced stage of the disease is proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR). During this stage, most people begin to realize they have a problem seeing.
Symptoms and complications of advanced-stage PDR include:
- Blurred and cloudy vision
- Dark or empty spots, especially in the center of vision
- Difficulty seeing in low light
- Detachment of the retina due to scar tissue
- Optic nerve damage causing glaucoma
If you notice any of these changes, they need to be checked out by an eye doctor. Retinopathy caused by diabetes makes up 12% of new cases of blindness.
Getting a Diagnosis
If you have vision problems with diabetes, you're not destined to go blind. Both stages of diabetic retinopathy can be detected and diagnosed through a comprehensive eye exam. If you have a family history of the disease or are diabetic, making sure to schedule annual eye exams can catch the disease earlier and aid in treatments that can help prolong your good vision.
For patients with diabetes or a family history that concerns them, optometrists have an array of specialized medical tests that can be utilized to diagnose vision problems. For diabetes, standard medical imaging tests include Annidis RHS Multi-Spectral Imaging, Optical Coherence Tomography, and Optomap Ultra-Widefield Retinal Imaging.
Treatment Options Available
The best way to help prevent and lessen the potential symptoms of vision loss from PDR is with careful management of diabetes and early detection. Keeping your blood sugar in check, eating healthier, and exercising can all increase the health of your circulatory system. For those with NPDR, maintaining the integrity of blood vessels can delay the second stage of the disease for some time.
As diabetic retinopathy worsens in later stages, more treatments are available that might help stop vision from worsening, such as:
- Scatter laser surgery, also called pan-retinal photocoagulation, can shrink blood vessels in the retina and lessen swelling
- A vitrectomy procedure to reattach a retina or remove darkened vitreous from the eye
- Injections of corticosteroids or anti-VEGF drugs to reduce swelling and limit the growth of abnormal blood vessels in the retina
These treatments can slow or stop the current damage, but they aren’t a cure. Just like diabetes is a lifelong condition, once you develop diabetic retinopathy, retinal damage and subsequent vision loss are always possible.
Know Your Risk
As mentioned previously, the longer you have had Type-1 or Type-2 diabetes, the greater your risk of developing diabetic retinopathy, primarily if the diabetes is poorly controlled. However, other factors increase the chance of PDR.
- Family history of diabetic retinopathy or other eye diseases
- Being of Hispanic or African descent
- Pregnancy when diabetic or developing gestational diabetes while pregnant
- Poorly controlled high blood pressure or high cholesterol
- Regular use of tobacco products
For those women who develop gestational diabetes when pregnant and begin to have vision issues, it is essential to note that vision often returns to normal after term once fluid retention and swelling subside and gestational diabetes resolves. You should still speak to an eye doctor if you notice any changes to your vision during pregnancy and if your sight doesn’t return to normal.
Diabetic Eye Care in Asheville
If you have recently been diagnosed with diabetes or have concerns that you may be experiencing symptoms of diabetic retinopathy, schedule a comprehensive eye exam with a trusted eye care professional. For Buncombe and surrounding counties in North Carolina, Asheville Vision and Wellness has the expertise, respect, and technology you can trust with your vision.
Since 1989, our staff has served the area using the latest science and medical treatments to keep your vision healthy. Our optometrists are certified in diagnosing, treating, and managing ocular disease with examinations customized just for your unique eye-care needs.
If you have concerns about developing PDR or any other ocular diseases, schedule an appointment online or call us at (828) 747-9260.