Diabetic retinopathy can be prevented

Diabetic retinopathy is an eye disease due to complications of diabetes. If not treated and controlled early, this complication can lead to blindness.

But Dr. Amadeo Veloso Jr., one of Asian Eye Institute’s retina specialists, has good news: "A diabetic can actually prevent this complication from happening."

He emphasizes three things. One, good control of a patient’s blood sugar level with medications; two, exercise; and three, proper diet.

"When a patient’s blood sugar level is elevated for a long period of time, the chance that diabetic retinopathy will develop is much greater. This is because high blood sugar level damages the tiny blood vessels inside the retina, the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye. A healthy retina is necessary for good vision. The key in controlling this disease is to properly manage and control the level of blood sugar," he says.

In the same breath, he also acknowledges that his advice is easier said than done. "Controlling the blood sugar level is the best way of preserving the vision of diabetics," he says.

Now how can a diabetic know if he has diabetic retinopathy? Sadly, according to Veloso, diabetic retinopathy often has no early warning signs.

Diabetic patients should not wait for symptoms. It is only in the advanced state of the disease that a patient will observe blurring of vision and floaters.

Vision can be affected if fluid leaks into the center of the macula, the part of the eye where sharp, straight-ahead vision occurs, and if fragile, abnormal blood vessels develop and leak blood into the center of the eye, blurring vision.

That is why retina experts like Veloso advise diabetics to have a comprehensive dilated eye exam at least once a year since only a thorough clinical examination of a patient’s eye can detect diabetic retinopathy.

"If diabetic retinopathy and macular edema is suspected and may need treatment," Veloso adds, "patients should undergo fluorescein angiogram."

"In this test, fluorescein dye is injected into your arm. Pictures are taken as the dye passes through the blood vessels in your retina. The test allows the retina specialist to identify any leaking blood vessels and recommend treatment. In addition, optical coherence tomography (OCT) of the macula may be performed to help monitor the swelling in the macula," he says.

"We have specific treatments based on the nature and extent of the disease or damage. In the early stages of the disease, we tell our patients that the most important thing to do is to control their levels of blood sugar, blood pressure, and blood cholesterol to prevent progression. Patients do not need laser treatment at this point," he says.

"However, if macular edema or swelling develops, patients may benefit from laser treatment. The procedure is called focal laser treatment. This treatment may stabilize vision. On the other hand, for proliferative diabetic retinopathy, the laser procedure is called scatter laser treatment. Scatter laser treatment helps shrink the abnormal blood vessels. If bleeding is severe in the eye, you may need a surgical procedure called a vitrectomy," he adds.

During a vitrectomy, Veloso said blood is removed from the center of the eye. All these procedures are aimed at preserving the retina, thus stabilizing the vision, and prevent further damage.

"These treatments have high success rates. However, they do not cure diabetic retinopathy. They just help control the damage brought about by the disease," Veloso says.

For inquiries about diabetic retinopathy, call 898-2020, e-mail [email protected], or log on to www.asianeyeinstitute.com.