About 9.6 million people in the US have diabetic retinopathy (DR). This form of diabetic eye disease damages the small blood vessels in your eye, which can lead to major, permanent vision changes, or in some cases, permanent blindness.
However, diabetic retinopathy can be treated or even fully reversed if caught early enough.
In this article, Ability Central answers seven of the most frequently asked questions about this diabetic eye disorder, including:
What is diabetic retinopathy (DR)?
What causes DR?
What are the risk factors for developing diabetic retinopathy?
What are the types of DR?
What are the stages of diabetic retinopathy?
Is there a cure for DR?
How does diabetic retinopathy affect communication?
What is diabetic retinopathy (DR)?
Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is an eye disease found in people with diabetes. It can cause vision changes, vision loss, and blindness if left untreated.
Sometimes referred to as diabetes eyes, diabetic retinopathy can develop in anyone who has type 1 or type 2 diabetes, and it usually affects both eyes. The longer a person has diabetes and the less controlled their blood sugar is, the more likely they are to develop DR.
In its earliest stages, diabetic retinopathy often has no symptoms. Many people who develop DR don’t realize they have the disease until they start experiencing severe symptoms.
However, eye doctors can check for DR as it develops and provide treatment as soon as possible. The best outcomes for DR are in cases with quick treatment.
What causes diabetic retinopathy?
High blood sugar from uncontrolled diabetes can cause diabetic retinopathy.
Diabetic retinopathy occurs when the small blood vessels in the eye, called capillaries, start to break down. This is usually due to a buildup of sugar that weakens the capillary walls. These weakened blood vessels can burst or leak into other parts of the eye.
Alternatively, the body tries to deal with the damaged capillaries by growing new ones—but these smaller, less effective capillaries have an even higher risk of bursting or leaking into the retina.
The retina is the part of your eye that detects light and sends signals to the brain via the optic nerve. When the retina is damaged or blocked, we experience changes to our vision like:
Blurriness
“Floaters” or sparkling lights
Dark spots
Cobweb-like veils.
Without treatment, these symptoms can cause permanent partial or full blindness or lead to other serious eye conditions like glaucoma, cataracts, or diabetic macular edema (DME).
To learn more, see Symptoms and Stages of Diabetic Retinopathy (DR).
What are the risk factors for diabetic retinopathy?
The main risk factors for diabetic retinopathy include:
Duration of diabetes. Nearly 90% of people with type 1 diabetes for over ten years develop DR. For those with type 2 diabetes for over ten years, around 67% who do not take insulin and 79% who do take insulin develop the disease.
Pregnancy. Women with diabetes who become pregnant are at high risk for getting diabetic retinopathy. Gestational diabetes, a form of the disease that develops in pregnant women who do not already have diabetes, also carries a high risk of DR.
Poor control of blood sugar levels.
High blood pressure.
High cholesterol.
Tobacco use.
Race and ethnicity. People with Black, Hispanic, or Native American ancestry are at higher risk for DR.
What are the types of diabetic retinopathy?
The two main types of diabetic retinopathy are non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR) and proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR).
NPDR is the earliest stage of diabetic retinopathy. There may be no symptoms, and medical treatments beyond traditional diabetic care may not be needed.
PDR is the more advanced stage of diabetic retinopathy. In this stage, the retina grows new blood vessels that often bleed. The bleeding may cause dark floaters in vision or cause vision loss.
What are the four stages of diabetic retinopathy?
The two types of diabetic retinopathy fall into four stages.
In mild NPDR, tiny bulges called microaneurysms develop in the retina’s blood vessels. Leakage from microaneurysms causes swelling in the retina, one of the only initial signs of DR.
In moderate NPDR, the small blood vessels continue to swell. The swelling may block blood flow to the retina, making vision blurry.
In severe NPDR, bleeding, “beading” (swelling sections of blood vessels), and atypical branching of blood vessels lead to larger and more serious blockages.
Finally, PDR is the most advanced stage of the disease. In response to major blood vessel blockages, the brain signals the body to grow new capillaries in the retina. These thin, fragile blood vessels can burst, causing severe, sudden vision loss. In PDR, bleeding also causes scar tissue to form inside the eye, which can lead to retinal detachment and permanent blindness.
For more information on the symptoms of each stage, see Symptoms and Stages of Diabetic Retinopathy (DR).
Is there a cure for diabetic retinopathy?
There is no cure yet for DR, but with proper treatment, some symptoms can be reversed. Treatment aims to prevent, delay, or reduce vision loss. The sooner the eye disease is diagnosed, the easier it is to treat.
Most DR treatments focus on managing diabetes, particularly maintaining healthy blood sugar levels. Treating other symptoms that contribute to DR, like high blood pressure or high cholesterol, can also slow or reverse DR symptoms.
How does diabetic retinopathy affect communication?
The vision changes of DR can affect a person’s ability to communicate effectively. A lack of visual cues, like expressions, body language, or hand gestures, makes nonverbal communication difficult. Vision loss can also make communication through technology a challenge.
Ability Central offers an extensive database of mobile devices recommended for accessibility features that can help with DR’s communication challenges.
Where can I get more information about diabetic retinopathy?
Ability Central offers a series of articles to further your knowledge about DR. See:
What Should I Do After a Diabetic Retinopathy (DR) Diagnosis?
Diabetic Retinopathy (DR): Long-term Care for Diabetic Vision Loss
Additional Information
The content provided in this article is for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for legal, medical, or other professional advice. While we strive to provide accurate and up-to-date resources, some information may become outdated or incomplete. Always consult with your provider about personal medical concerns.
