Diabetic Retinopathy FAQ

Submitted by charu gupta on 1 June 2014

Diabetic retinopathy is an increasing cause of blindness in persons with diabetes. Senior Ophthalmologist Dr Charu Gupta answers your questions, clears misconceptions and separates the facts from the myths.

What is diabetic retinopathy?

Diabetes can cause changes to the blood vessels of the retina, leading to blindness. This is called diabetic retinopathy.

I have good eyesight. I don’t have to worry about diabetic retinopathy.

Unfortunately that is not true. Many patients with severe proliferative diabetic retinopathy can present with 20/20 or 6/6 vision. This potentially blinding condition can be prevented by having a dilated retinal examination, followed by the treatment recommended by your eye surgeon.

Having good eyesight definitely does not mean you do not have diabetic retinopathy. 

I have heard that only patients with Type 1 diabetes, who are insulin dependent, are at risk of developing diabetic retinopathy. 

This is not true. Anybody with diabetes could develop retinopathy. Although the percentage of patients with Type 1 or insulin dependent diabetes getting retinal involvement is higher, in terms of numbers, more patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus lose their sight as the total number of patients with non-insulin dependent disease is much higher.

I exercise and manage my weight. Should I worry?

Although a sedentary lifestyle and metabolic instability increase the risk of developing diabetic retinopathy, it can develop in non-obese, active individuals, too.

My blood sugar is under control now. I should be safe from diabetic retinopathy.

Development of retinopathy is closely linked to the duration of the disease with the damage occurring over years. Other factors are also involved, like control of the blood sugar, blood pressure and cholesterol levels. Since it occurs gradually over a period of time, you cannot reverse it suddenly with good control over a short period.

I have high blood pressure. How does that affect my eye health? 

Elevated blood pressure plays an important role in the progression of retinopathy. The other major metabolic factors are blood lipid levels and kidney functions. Control of all these is a must to decrease disease progression as well as to improve your response to the treatment.

I have diabetic retinopathy. Will exercise further damage the blood vessels in my eye?

This is not true. Most such patients are encouraged to undertake physical exercise. Only few patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy – an advanced form in which bleeding or risk of a bleed is high – need to avoid vigorous exercise. Your retina specialist would be the best guide for this.

Is laser treatment safe? Could I go completely blind? 

Laser therapy is still the gold-standard for treatment of diabetic retinopathy. Large trials have shown that it reduces the chances of bleeding and decreases macular edema. The effect, however, of this treatment is not immediate and you may have some initial blurring of vision. But this is temporary. Laser treatment is stabilising and should be considered to avoid blinding retinopathy.

I have retinal edema due to diabetes and have been recommended an injection. Will one injection be enough or will I have to repeat the treatment? 

Recently intravitreal injections of anti VEGF agents such as Avastin or Lucentis and steroids have been found to be very useful for reducing retinal swelling (macular edema) and to decrease the chances of bleeding. However it must be noted that these have a limited duration of action, and may need to be repeated multiple times and should be combined with a good metabolic control.

Will vitreous surgery restore my normal vision? 

The visual improvement post-surgery would depend upon the status of the nerve of the eye (optic nerve) as well as that of the central retina. The surgery would help clear off the blood from the front of the retina and help restore the retinal anatomy. However damage to the cells of the retina or the optic nerve can be irreversible. Talk to your doctor about the prognosis so your expectations are realistic.

Will my retinal surgery stop the bleeding in the eye? 

Nowadays with the latest vitreoretinal techniques, chances of surgical success have increased significantly. However there are still small chances of re-bleeds in the eye. These normally clear well spontaneously so the patients should not get despondent in such cases. Some cases may require a vitreous lavage (a wash-out procedure) and/or repeat injection of anti-VEGF agents.

Read here to understand more about management of diabetic retinopathy

Listen to the video below to understand more on Diabetic Retinopathy 

 

Community
Diabetes
Condition
Diabetes
Diabetic Retinopathy
Changed
Sat, 09/03/2022 - 16:06

Stories

  • 5 Rupees Ayurveda drug BGR-34 for Diabetes approved by AYUSH
    A herbal drug for diabetes that costs Rs.5 per pill, developed by two Lucknow-based Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) laboratories, the National Botanical Research Institute (NBRI) and Central Institute for Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (CIMAP), and licensed to Delhi-based Aimil Pharamaceuticals Pvt. Ltd for commercialization, has been launched in parts of north India. The drug, branded BGR-34, is a combination of natural extracts derived from four plant species…
  • Yoga for managing Diabetes - E-book
    Exercise is a key element in managing Diabetes. While some prefer walking or running, others prefer yoga and weight training. You can read how they included Yoga in their regimen. https://www.patientsengage.com/personal-voices/focus-exercise-and-diet-control https://www.patientsengage.com/personal-voices/move-it So we hand picked simple asanas for our members and put it together in this E-book.  You can download it from here: https://www.patientsengage.com/yogabooklet For more…
  • Image text says Superfoods
    5 budget superfoods
    Nutritious foods that give you the most bang for your buck. By Dietitian and Diabetes educator Ujjwala Baxi When we hear ‘superfoods’, we think quinoa, blueberries, salmon, chia seeds etc thanks to clever marketing and hype. These are not only expensive, but can be hard to get hold of, especially in India. The good news is that there are ‘superfoods’ that are readily available and affordable, but are often ignored. They pack as much punch as the much-touted superfoods but are overlooked as…
  • I wanted to improve my lot in life and take control of my diabetes
    From being in denial to Diabetes Support Group member, Christine Lee, 62, talks about her 22-year tryst with diabetes. She tells us how she changed her life around, and her take on hawker food. When were you diagnosed? In August 1993 when I was about to undergo an operation. I was then 40 years old. What were the early symptoms?  My only symptom was that I always felt very thirsty and loved gulping down F&N Sarsaparilla (aka “Sarsi”). The thought of diabetes never crossed my mind…
  • Stop Your Child Smoking
    Why your child is at risk and what to say to him or her. By Dr Shital Raval Patel. When you think of a smoker, you don’t think of a 10-year-old. But 67% of smokers in India start the tobacco habit between the ages of 9 and 15. According to the Global Youth Tobacco Survey (2006), more than one third of students aged 13 to 15 years (36.8%) reported initiating tobacco use before the age of 10 (Sinha et al., 2008). This could be cigarettes, bidis (which have three times the amount of nicotine and…
  • AstraZeneca’s Diabetes Drug Onglyza May Raise Death Risk, FDA Says
    AstraZeneca Plc’s type 2 diabetes drug Onglyza showed an increased risk of death in an analysis by U.S. regulators of a clinical trial on the heart effects of the treatment. Please review with your doctor if this risk applies to you Food and Drug Administration staff said their analysis of deaths in the trial suggested patients using Onglyza experienced “significant or near-significant” increases in death from all causes, not just heart problems. The FDA staff didn’t find an increase…
  • , ,
    Dental Health and its influence on Systemic Diseases
    Maintaining good oral health is more than just about keeping cavities at bay. Your dental health has far-reaching consequences on your body, with oral bacteria being linked to many life-threatening conditions, like cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, renal health and even brain abcess. Oral hygience and overall good health  Like many areas of the body, your mouth is teeming with bacteria, most of them harmless. Normally the body's natural defences and good oral health can keep these…
  • Singapore diabetes patients among the youngest in Asia: Study
    The study found that three in 10 type 2 patients in Singapore had diabetes before turning 40. Younger patients also fared poorly in terms of glucose control, hypertension and cholesterol management compared to older patients. Hence, doctors said it is timely that a new drug called JANUMET XR was approved by the Health Sciences Authority last year to help patients with type 2 diabetes maintain their blood sugar level. Currently, patients require multiple drugs for blood sugar control. But…
  • Younger diabetics manage condition less well than older patients: Singapore Study
    SINGAPORE — When it comes to managing their condition, younger TYPE 2 diabetic patients — those below the age of 40 — in Singapore appear to be having a harder time keeping their conditions in check as compared to their older counterparts, a study by the Asia Diabetes Foundation (ADF) has found. The study involved over 300 diabetic patients here and was conducted at the Singapore General Hospital (SGH). Findings revealed that younger patients fared worse in two of three key indicators doctors…
  • Medical conditions did not deter these Singaporean students from pursuing academic success
    MARCH 3, 2015 19-year-old Darren Lou has known for years what he wants to do with his life.  Not only does he plan to be a doctor, he knows exactly which field he hopes to specialise in: Endocrinology, the study of the human body’s endocrine system, which deals with hormones and how it affects metabolism and growth, among other things. Diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes three years ago, Darren hopes to help other patients like himself. Dealt a second blow a year later when a pre-enlistment…