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Diabetic retinopathy
Alternative Names: Retinopathy - diabetic Treatment: The goal of treatment is to control your blood sugar, blood pressure, and cholesterol.  Text Continues Below Treatment, however, usually does not reverse existing damage, but will keep the disease from getting worse.  Drugs that keep abnormal blood vessels from growing in patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy are under development. Laser surgery may be used to keep vessels from leaking or to get rid of abnormal fragile vessels. A surgical procedure called vitrectomy is used when there is bleeding (hemorrhage) into the eye. It may also be used to repair retinal detachment. Support Groups: American Diabetes Association - www.diabetes.org National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse - www.diabetes.niddk.nih.gov Prevent Blindness America - www.preventblindness.org Expectations (prognosis): Patients who have good control of their blood sugar and blood pressure may improve their outcomes. Diabetic retinopathy can lead to blindness without treatment. Complications: Glaucoma Retinal detachment Blindness Calling your health care provider: Call for an appointment with an ophthalmologist (eye doctor) if you have diabetes and you have not seen an ophthalmologist in the past year. References: Sydorova M, Lee MS. Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Levels in Vitreous and Serum of Patients with either Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy or Proliferative Vitreoretinopathy. Ophthalmic Res. 2005 Jun 29;37(4):188-190. Page:  1 | 2 | Next >>