Symptoms of Diabetic Retinopathy  

Retinopathy is often a side-effect of type I or type II diabetes. It occurs when there is damage to the tiny blood vessels in the retina. If you have diabetic retinopathy, you may not notice at first. Symptoms may be mild, or you may not have symptoms at all. This is why it’s so important to keep regular appointments for eye exams with your vision specialist in Brunswick, St. Marys, and Jesup, GA. This is the professional who can diagnose and begin treatment for diabetic retinopathy while it’s still in its earliest stages.

Symptoms of Diabetic Retinopathy

If you have diabetic retinopathy, you may notice that your vision seems to fluctuate at times. Images may seem progressively more blurry as time goes by, and you may begin to notice what looks like spots or string floating in your vision. You may notice blacked-out areas in your vision as well. Eventually, you can suffer partial or complete vision loss due to retinal damage.

If you have diabetes, especially diabetes that seems hard to manage, it’s important to take good care of your eyes. Once vision is lost, it can’t be restored. However, early intervention and treatment may help stop the deterioration.

What Causes Diabetic Retinopathy?

Diabetic retinopathy is caused by too much sugar in your blood. Over time, this can cut off blood supply to the tiny blood vessels that support the retina. Your body will attempt to grow new blood vessels in response, but those new vessels typically don’t develop as they should. Instead, they rupture and leak blood and fluid into the retina. Scar tissue can then form which may cause the retina to detach from the eye. When left undiagnosed and untreated, diabetic retinopathy may cause glaucoma, resulting in total and permanent vision loss.

Is Diabetic Retinopathy Treatable?

Diabetic retinopathy is treatable, and the earlier treatment begins, the less damage it can cause. Initially, you’ll need to get your diabetes under good control, so the damage doesn’t progress. Beyond this, treatments include eye injections, laser procedures, or eye surgery.

 If you suspect you may have early signs of diabetic retinopathy in Brunswick, St. Marys, or Jessup, GA, Vision Source Family Eye Care can help. Call today to schedule an appointment.