Diabetic eye conditions
Diabetic eye conditions Treatment Brisbane
What is diabetic retinopathy?
With time, diabetes often causes damage to the eyes. There are a number of different eye problems that can affect people with diabetes, the most common being diabetic retinopathy. Diabetic retinopathy is the most common cause of vision loss in people with diabetes, with one in three diabetic people over 40 having some signs of diabetic retinopathy.
Diabetic retinopathy is an eye condition that damages blood vessels in the retina. Over time, this can cause vision loss and even blindness. Diabetic retinopathy can develop in anyone who has Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes.
The less controlled your blood sugar is, and the longer you’ve had diabetes, the more likely you are to develop this condition. At first, diabetic retinopathy may cause no symptoms, or only mild vision problems, which is why having regular eye checks is so important.
What causes diabetic retinopathy?
Diabetes can damage blood vessels all over the body. In particular, diabetic retinopathy affects the retina – the part of the eye that detects light and sends signals to your brain through the optic nerve. The damage starts when high sugar levels block the blood vessels that go to the retina, causing them to leak fluid or bleed. To make up for this blockage, the eyes grow new blood vessels, which develop poorly and ultimately interfere with vision.
While anyone with diabetes can develop diabetic retinopathy, some people are at greater risk. This includes people who have had diabetes for a long time, have poor control of their blood sugar level, have high blood pressure and cholesterol, are pregnant.
What are the symptoms of diabetic retinopathy?
Diabetic retinopathy develops slowly, meaning that you may not experience any symptoms at first. As the condition worsens, you may begin to notice vision changes, such as:
- Spots or dark strings (known as floaters)
- Blurry or wavy vision
- Vision fluctuations
- Poor colour vision
- Dark, empty spots in vision
- Flashes of light
- Vision loss
If you experience any of these, please talk to your eye doctor.
How is diabetic retinopathy diagnosed?
Dr Jayne Camuglia can check for diabetic retinopathy during a routine eye exam. She will give you some eye drops to dilate your pupils before checking your eyes for diabetic retinopathy and other eye diseases. If she does suspect diabetic retinopathy, she may also complete a fluorescein angiogram test, which allows her to see pictures of the blood vessels in your retina.
If you have diabetes, it’s extremely important to undergo regular eye exams. Early diagnosis of diabetic retinopathy can help stop further damage and prevent blindness.
Is diabetic retinopathy preventable?
You can’t always prevent diabetic retinopathy, however effectively managing your diabetes can lower your risk considerably. Try to keep your blood sugar levels as close to normal as possible by exercising regularly, eating healthy and carefully following your doctor’s instructions regarding insulin and other medication. You should also endeavour to keep your blood pressure and cholesterol under control, as this can also increase risk.
How is diabetic retinopathy treated?
If you are in the early stages of diabetic retinopathy, you may not need treatment straight away, although Dr Jayne Camuglia may keep track of your vision through more regular exams. In later stages of the condition, Dr Camuglia may recommend either injections, laser treatment or eye surgery, depending on the severity of your case.
Frequently Asked Questions
The most common treatment for diabetic retinopathy involves injecting a medicine called anti-VEGF into the eyes. These injections are designed to stop new blood vessels from growing, thus preventing further vision interference.
During the procedure, Dr Jayne Camuglia will first numb your eyes with anaesthetic drops before cleaning your eyes with an iodine solution. Your eyes will be held open with an instrument known as a speculum to ensure you do not blink during the procedure. Dr Camuglia will then guide a very fine needle into your eyeballs to administer the injections. You may feel pressure or a slight sting during the injection, however you should not experience any pain.
To begin with, you may require treatment monthly. As your vision begins to stabilise, they’ll be given less frequently or stopped altogether.
Before your anti-VEGF treatments, Dr Jayne Camuglia will let you know of any steps you may need to prepare. While this is a minimally invasive procedure, you will receive an anaesthetic and cannot drive afterwards. Please arrange for alternative transportation to and from your appointment.
After your anti-VEGF injections, your eyes may feel irritated or have a gritty sensation, however, Dr Jayne Camuglia will provide eye drops to help with this. You can also place a cool, clean washcloth over the eyes for 10 minutes every half hour for further relief.
Dr Camuglia may inject close to and disrupt the wall of the blood vessel in the eye as she administers the anti-VEGF medication. This may leave a small red spot in the injection site, however, it should disappear within two weeks. This is a common and harmless side effect, so long as you do not experience any pain or vision changes.
No procedure is without risk. Although complications after diabetic retinopathy injections are uncommon, they may include:
- Eye irritation
- Pain and discomfort
- Light sensitivity
- Vision changes
- Moving spots in vision (floaters)
- Increased eye pressure
- Eye infection
- Retinal detachment
If you notice anything abnormal following your diabetic retinopathy injections, you should get in touch with Dr Jayne Camuglia immediately.
Dr Jayne Camuglia is a General Adult and Paediatric Ophthalmologist with a particular interest in diabetic retinopathy. If you are diabetic and believe that you may have diabetic retinopathy, please get in touch to see Dr Camuglia today.