Diabetic retinopathy affects the majority of people who have lived with type 1 and type 2 diabetes for more than 20 years. This eye condition stands as the primary cause of blindness in adults between 20 and 64 years old. Many people don't even know it exists.
Gula darah tinggi damages the retina's tiny blood vessels, leading to diabetic retinopathy. These vessels weaken, leak fluid, or grow abnormally as time passes. Your risk grows higher the longer you live with kencing manis, especially when you have poorly managed blood sugar levels.
Understanding different stages, treatments, and early warning signals is a vital part of managing diabetes. People with diabetes face a 2 to 5 times higher risk of developing cataracts and their risk of open-angle glaucoma nearly doubles. Regular eye examinations and proper care can prevent many cases of vision loss. This condition ended up causing complete vision loss if left untreated.
Diabetic retinopathy ranks as the most common ocular fundus disease that affects diabetic patients. This eye condition damages the retina's blood vessels located at the back of the eye where light-sensitive tissue exists.
Two main types of diabetic retinopathy exist. The more common form, Nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR), weakens blood vessel walls and creates tiny bulges that leak fluid and blood into the retina. The advanced stage, Proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR), develops after damaged blood vessels close off and trigger the growth of new, fragile vessels that bleed easily.
People might not notice symptoms of diabetic retinopathy at the time it begins. The condition progresses with these signs:
High blood sugar levels damage retinal blood vessels gradually. Blood vessels start leaking fluid or bleeding, which reduces the retina's blood supply. The eye responds by growing new, abnormal blood vessels that fail to work properly.
These factors raise the risk of developing the condition:
Diabetic retinopathy can lead to severe complications without proper treatment:
Regular eye checkups play a vital role in catching diabetic retinopathy early.
An pakar mata or optometrist typically spots this condition through a dilated eye exam. Your doctor might also recommend these tests:
Doctors can choose from several proven treatments:
You need immediate medical help if you notice:
While you can't always prevent this condition, these steps can lower your risk:
Diabetic retinopathy progresses in stages, and early treatment gives you the best chance to protect your vision.
Living with diabetes demands extra alertness about eye health. Diabetic retinopathy develops without warning signs, so you need regular eye check-ups to manage diabetes effectively. Quick detection can make all the difference between keeping your vision and losing your sight.
The risk increases by a lot as you spend more years with diabetes especially when you have uncontrolled blood sugar levels. Both type 1 and type 2 diabetes patients face this condition, but good management can slow down its progress.
Modern medicine offers several treatment options from specialised injections to laser procedures. These treatments work best with early detection, which makes routine screenings crucial. Each eye exam serves as an investment in your future sight.
Diabetic retinopathy might worry you, but understanding enables you to take charge. People who know their condition well and stick to their care plan usually keep good vision throughout life. Your eyes need this care—they connect you to everything and everyone you cherish.
The condition progresses through four stages from mild to severe:
Each person's progression rate differs significantly. Patients with moderate NPDR take about 2 years to reach severe stages. Sometimes, this condition advances to proliferative stages in severe NPDR cases within 5 years.
Early diabetic retinopathy usually shows no symptoms. Some patients notice these changes:
Type 1 diabetes patients typically develop retinopathy between ages 5-14. Taipkan diabetes 2 patients see it later, usually between ages 40-60. The time you have had diabetes matters more than your age. After 20 years, almost all Type 1 patients and half of Type 2 patients show signs of retinopathy.