What is diabetic retinopathy? What your eyes can tell you about your health

With rising diabetes cases in India, diabetic retinopathy is emerging as a leading cause of vision loss—learn the symptoms, stages, and preventive steps to protect your eyesight. (Image: Canva)

Diabetes is one of the fastest-growing health crises of our time, and it’s affecting every part of your body. One of the most serious-yet-underappreciated complications among them is diabetic retinopathy — an eye disease that occurs when the blood vessels in the retina, in the back of your eye, break down due to longstanding high blood sugar. As the retina is responsible for communicating visual information to the brain, an injury to the retina can have serious consequences for sight, including blindness if left untreated.

All people with diabetes — including those with type 1 and type 2 — are at risk for diabetic retinopathy. The danger increases the longer a person has diabetes, particularly if blood sugar levels are poorly controlled. Other factors such as high blood pressure and high cholesterol levels add even more to the risk of harm.

"With the rise in diabetes cases in India, we are also seeing a surge in the cases of diabetic retinopathy," Dr. Aditya Kelkar, Director, NIO Super Specialty Hospital says. “It is a disease that can stay silent in its initial phase, and it is essential to observe regular eye check-ups to detect and treat it in a timely way.” This sequelae is largely preventable with appropriate direction so that people might continue to preserve their vision and overall quality of life.

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Diabetic Retinopathy – What is it and How Common?

Diabetes is a lifestyle disease since a pattern of genetic, dietary, and lifestyle can cause it to appear. Although people are familiar with heart and kidney issues, or nerve damage, the effect of diabetes on the eyes is often overlooked. One of the most common eye-related disorders is diabetic retinopathy, which develops when uncontrolled high blood sugar damages the tiny blood vessels that supply the retina — the light-sensitive lining at the back of the eye.

The retina is an important part of vision, allowing us to see colours, details, and images sharply. When it is damaged, vision can decline slowly, and may not initially cause obvious symptoms. It can affect both type 1 and type 2 diabetics, and the longer a patient has diabetes, the greater the risk. Unregulated sugar, along with the trouble brought on by hbp and high cholesterol hasten the progression of this condition.

“With the growing population of diabetics in India, diabetic retinopathy cases are also increasing,” says Dr Aditya Kelkar, Director NIO Super Specialty Hospital. “The condition is something that can be detected early through routine eye exams, which allows patients a better opportunity to avoid serious vision loss.”

Symptoms & Impact

In the early stages, diabetic retinopathy is usually unnoticed. But over time it gets worse, and your signs and symptoms may include:

• Increasing number of dark floaters
• Blurred or distorted vision
• Scotoma, spot in the field of vision across from the person’s nose that is black or blank
• Weak night vision or dull colours
• Progressive loss of vision
• It is typically bilateral and can be blinding if left untreated.

There are two major stages

Non-Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy (NPDR):

At this early point, the leaking blood vessels lead to swelling of the retina. And if the macula — the retina’s most sensitive part — swells (macular edema), vision blurs.

Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy (PDR):

This advanced stage is when the eye produces abnormal, fragile blood vessels that grow along the retina and in the clear, gel-like vitreous that fills the inside of the eye, bleeding into the eye and clouding vision. Scar tissue from these vessels may cause the retina to detach and result in severe vision loss.

Treatment & Precautions

The good news is, it is possible to control and prevent diabetic retinopathy if detected early. Key strategies include:

• Tight management of blood sugar, blood pressure and cholesterol with medicine, diet and exercise.
• An annual eye examination, even if vision seems clear.
• Medical intervention: Macular swelling is decreased by anti-VEGF or steroid injections.
• Laser therapy: Can seal leaking vessels, or can shrink abnormally growing blood vessels
• Vitrectomy surgery: In older patients with more advanced disease, removing the vitreous gel and scar tissue may restore some vision. Also Read: Kissing Bug Disease: Signs and symptoms, who’s at risk, treatment, and moreFAQQ: What is diabetic retinopathy? A: Diabetic retinopathy is an eye disease caused by damage to the blood vessels in the retina due to prolonged high blood sugar levels. Q: Who is at risk for diabetic retinopathy? A: All people with diabetes, whether type 1 or type 2, are at risk. The danger increases the longer a person has diabetes and is exacerbated by factors like high blood pressure and high cholesterol. Q: What are the symptoms of diabetic retinopathy? A: Symptoms include dark floaters, blurred or distorted vision, a black or blank spot in the field of vision, weak night vision or dull colours, and progressive loss of vision. Q: How can diabetic retinopathy be treated? A: Treatment includes tight management of blood sugar, blood pressure, and cholesterol, annual eye exams, medical interventions like injections, laser therapy, and vitrectomy surgery. Q: Can diabetic retinopathy lead to blindness? A: Yes, if left untreated, diabetic retinopathy can lead to severe vision loss and even blindness. Q: How can diabetic retinopathy be prevented? A: Early detection through regular eye examinations and proper management of diabetes and related conditions can help prevent diabetic retinopathy.