Facts on Retinopathy

Retinopathy (also known as diabetic retinopathy) is an eye condition that damages the retina and can lead to blindness.

In this article:

What is retinopathy?

Diagnosis

Advice & Support

Symptoms

Effect on your life

Causes

Treatment

What is retinopathy?
Retinopathy is a common complication of diabetes.

The retina sits at the back of the eye and sends messages to your brain about what your eyes actually see. When the thin and fragile walls of tiny cells (capillaries) around the retina swell abnormally, become blocked and/or leak fluid, this can result in a gradual reduction of vision.

Symptoms
Symptoms of retinopathy include:

reduction of vision, where things gradually appear increasingly blurred

headaches and migraines

blindness

Causes
Causes of retinopathy include:

diabetes

very high blood pressure

high blood glucose levels

high cholesterol levels

being pregnant

In short, your retina has been starved of its required blood supply – due to the above causes – and this has a negative impact upon your vision.

Diagnosis
It is important to regularly have your eyes examined. If you do have retinopathy, having a routine eye test can highlight your condition and enable you to avail of appropriate treatment before your condition reaches an advanced stage.

Effect on your life
If you are suffering from retinopathy you will gradually experience a reduction in vision in (usually) both of your eyes. People and objects will appear blurred and you will struggle to see fine detail. This can impact upon your home life, at work, and in social situations.

As the condition progresses – if left untreated – you may lose your sight altogether. This is why it is vital that your eyes are checked as part of a routine screening process.

Treatment
If retinopathy is detected before it reaches an advanced stage, a laser procedure can be used to disperse any new blood vessel formations around the retina that, if left untreated, can lead to blindness. If laser treatment proves unsuccessful, a surgical procedure called a vitrectomy may be used – where jelly from the back of the eye is removed in an effort try to restore vision, or at least curtail the progression of the condition.

Advice & Support
Royal National Institute of Blind People
105 Judd Street
London
WC1H 9NE
Directions to Judd Street

Tel: 020 7388 1266
Website: www.rnib.org.uk
E-mail: helpline@rnib.org.uk


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