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Eye diseases Diabetic retinopathy Diabetic retinopathy
Diabetic retinopathy Diabetes is the leading cause of blindness in the working population in the UK. Diabetes affects sight...+ Full Story |
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| Diabetic retinopathy |
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| Written by Administrator |
| Monday, 15 September 2008 20:50 |
Diabetes is the leading cause of blindness in the working population in the UK. Diabetes affects sight by causing blood vessels in the retina to leak or become blocked off. In the early stages of the disease vision is unaffected, but in later stages without treatmet, diabetic retinopathy may cause significantly blurred vision. In rare cases serious sight loss may result as a result of progressive retinopathy and retinal detachment. As with most eye diseases, early detection is crucial. The damage caused to blood vessels by diabetes can be held in check by laser treatment. Blindness may be prevented in 90% of cases, but any vision already lost cannot be restored. Currently laser treatment for diabetic retinopathy works by "ablating" spots of the retina - effectively spot welding the retina in place and reducing the need for oxygen and reducing the stimulus for new blood vessel growth. The spot weld in effect damages a focal spot on the retina, but as a result stabilises progressive diabetic retinopathy, otherwise, new blood vessel formation can be harmful as vessels can bleed can cause "vitreous haemorrhage" - ie bleeding within the back chamber of the eye. Halting progressive disease with laser treatment is very effective, both for diabetic macular disease that affects central vision and also for proliferative diabetic retinopathy. In proliferative diabetic retinopathy, "panretinal" laser is applied to treat large areas of the retina. This form of laser treatment can affect peripheral field (ie vision to the side) such that the ability to drive is affected, however it is only performed when the risks of not treating are judged to be less that the benefits. New treatments on the horizon such as selective retina laser treatment offer the potential to treat the retina without affecting peripheral vision. Selective laser treatment works by applying a very low dose of laser in minute bursts (ie pulses measured in millionths of a second), which has the potential to selectively treat only diseased cells). Currently research is ongoing as to the effectiveness of this technique, and results are promising. Diabetic retinopathy affecting macula region. |
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