Diabetes and the Retina 

Diabetes - Visual loss relation.

There are a certain set of factors that accelerate the retinal damage in diabetic patients; smoking, for instance, pregnancy, anaemia, concurrent nephropathy, high cholesterol, hypertension.. All of these factors augment the damage of diabetes in the eye. A retinal disease is concurrent in 90 % of patients that have been through the diabetes for about 15 - 20 years. In cases where the blood glucose remains high for long time eye veins are affected, the alimentation of nervous layer, which is called retina, is distorted. Angiogenezis (creation of new veins) occur in the retina and a liquid leaks from these new veins. AS a result of the leakage, the liquid accumulates in retina layer and cause the retina to expand. Since the liquid contains fat substance, it result the creation of layers named exsudate and then reduction in the sight. When the diagnosis is determined before the angiogenezis, ther can be no change in the visual ability. However, this period advances very quickly and may cause sudden reduction in visual strenght by transforming into dangerous forms. 

How Does the Diabetes Cause Blindness?

The diabetes affect the capillary vessels of the retina. As a result of the damage in the vessels a liquid leakage occur. This liquid emanating from the vessel causes the generation of edema at the visual cortex. Hemorrahage in the eye may cause visual loss. Stripes ingenerate in the retina and this may cause decollement, lacerations in the retina as they pull the layer. Visual loss may occur due to the malnutrition in the visual cortex.

Can Diabetes be Brought Under Control?

1. Regular controls, follow up of patients without the existence of visual defect are the very first steps of the treatment. Early diagnosis and treatment in the proper time enables obtaining favoravle results. 

2. A well control over the diabetes, regulation of hypertension and reducing the blood fat rates enable a significant control over the diabetes - related visual problems. 

3. Taking photographs of fundus oculi is suggestible for the follow up of the patients. Eye angiography may be needed in certain cases. 

Why the Fundus Fluorescein Angiography is Implemented?

Angiography is a simple, easy to be completed in short time, diagnostic - ancillary method. By means of this test, your doctor can analyze the blood circulation in your eyes and changes in some tissues of the eye especially the retina. Angiography can be implemented in diseases (like embolism, diabetes) which affect retinal vessels and age related macular degeneration, in inborn structural disorders of the retina and in tumors.