Diabetic Retinopathy explained Dr. Bernard Hurley, MD, FRCSC, Vitreoretinal Surgeon

When a patient develops diabetic retinopathy, in general the blood vessels that supply oxygen and nutrition to the retina become blocked or leaky, or a combination of both. This results in areas of the retina to become swollen or that may become ischemic or deprived of oxygen. As these retinal areas become ischemic and die, they may release vascular endothelial growth factor, which can lead to new blood vessel growth inside the eye. The new blood vessels that are generated are typically unhealthy and problematic and can lead to things like retinal detachment or glaucoma.

In terms of symptoms and detection, in the early stages, patients may not notice any symptoms. In later stages, they may notice blurry vision and reduced visual acuity. Symptoms such as this can come on gradually. Patients may also experience symptoms such as floaters, blurred or patchy vision, dark or empty areas in your vision, eye pain or redness, or even sudden vision loss. The level of symptoms will typically correlate with how progressed the condition is.

People who are most likely to get diabetic retinopathy are patients with type 1 or type 2 diabetes who may have poorly controlled diabetes. This is one of the health risks of having high blood sugar levels left unchecked over time. The damage to your eyes starts when sugar in the blood blocks the tiny blood vessels that feed your retina, causing them to leak fluid or bleed. This can causes the retinal tissue to swell. Also, to make up for these blocked blood vessels, your eyes try to grow new blood vessels that unfortunately don't work very well. This can cause damage to the retina and subsequently cloudy or blurred vision. Diabetic retinopathy usually affects both eyes. It’s important for anyone who has been diagnosed with type 1 or 2 diabetes to make sure they have their eyes checked regularly for a retinal examination. If you feel you might be at risk for diabetic retinopathy, please reach out to your local optometrist for screening, or speak to your family physician.

Presenter: Dr. Bernard Hurley, Ophthalmologist, Ottawa, ON

Local Practitioners: Ophthalmologist