Diabetic retinopathy is a degenerative eye disorder. It is a complication of diabetes and results in damage to the blood vessels of the retina. According to the National Eye Institute, 45 percent of all diabetic adults have some degree of diabetic retinopathy. Early and advanced are the two main stages of this disorder. The early stage is comprised of the mild, moderate and severe stages.
Early Diabetic Retinopathy
According to the National Eye Institute, nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR) is the most common type of diabetic retinopathy. It is divided into three stages: mild, moderate and severe.
In the first stage, the walls of the blood vessels in the retina weaken and microaneurysms develop. These tiny bulges protrude through the vessel walls and cause blood to leak into the retina.
In the second stage, the smaller blood vessels constrict. The blood supply to the retina is blocked.
In the third stage, the blockage increases and the retina is deprived of an adequate blood supply. This triggers the body to produce new blood vessels.
At any of these stages, macular edema can develop. As the smaller blood vessels constrict and the larger vessels dilate, edema or swelling develops in the macula, which is the central part of the retina.
Advanced Diabetic Retinopathy
The most severe stage of diabetic retinopathy is proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR). Abnormal and fragile new blood vessels develop in the retina. These new vessels invade the vitreous gel, which is the clear substance comprising the center of the eye. Blood can leak into the vitreous gel and cause blurred vision. The abnormal blood vessels can interfere with the normal flow of fluid in the eye. This causes an increase in the internal eye pressure and damage to the optic nerve. The incidence of macula edema increases in this advanced stage.
Preventing Advancement of Diabetic Retinopathy
Early detection is the most effective way of preventing advancement of diabetic retinopathy. The Mayo Clinic recommends that diabetic patients should have an annual dilated eye exam. Sudden vision changes or blurry, spotty or hazy vision requires immediate medical attention. Vision loss is the ultimate consequence of this disorder.
