What Is Diabetic Retinopathy?

The longer you have diabetes, the greater your risk of developing diabetic retinopathy. To promote healthy vision you need to make a commitment to managing your diabetes , with regular monitoring of blood sugar levels, quit smoking , keeping blood pressure and cholesterol under control and de-stress yourself as well. Regular eye exams are an important part of your diabetes treatment plan. Contact your eye doctor right away if you experience sudden vision changes or your vision becomes blurry, spotty or hazy. Treatment for diabetic retinopathy depends on the type of diabetic retinopathy you have, its severity and how well it may respond to specific treatments. For early diabetic retinopathy such as non proliferative diabetic retinopathy, you may not need treatment right away. However, your eye doctor will closely monitor your retina to determine if you need laser treatment. For advanced diabetic retinopathy or proliferative diabetic retinopathy, you'll need prompt surgical treatment. Sometimes surgery is recommended for severe non proliferative diabetic retinopathy as well. Surgery often slows or stops the progression of diabetic retinopathy, but it's not a cure. Because diabetes is a lifelong condition, future retinal damage and vision loss is possible. Even after treatment for diabetic retinopathy, you'll need regular eye exams. At some point, additional treatment may be recommended.