Diabetic Retinopathy Treatment

• Background Diabetic Retinopathy
• Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy
• Traction Retinal Detachment
• Vitreous Hemorrhage

In diabetic retinopathy, the blood vessels of the retina become abnormal and cause the problems that diabetic patients have with their eyesight. Normally, the blood vessels in the retina do not leak. But with diabetes, the retinal blood vessels can develop tiny leaks. These leaks cause fluid or blood to seep into the retina. The retina then becomes wet and swollen and cannot work properly. The form of diabetic retinopathy caused by leakage of the retinal blood vessels is called background diabetic retinopathy (BDR).

Another problem with the retinal blood vessels in diabetes is that they can close. The retinal tissue, which depends on those vessels for nutrition, will no longer work properly. The areas of the retina in which the blood vessels have closed then foster the growth of abnormal new blood vessels that can be very bad for the eye, as they can cause bleeding and scar tissue that may result in a total loss of vision. The form of diabetic retinopathy caused by closure of the blood vessels and within which abnormal new blood vessels grow is called proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR).

Helping Diabetics Keep Their Vision

Retina San Antonio featured on KENS 5 News.