Diabetic Retinopathy

Diabetic retinopathy is the leading cause of blindness in patients 20 to 74 years of age. The two forms of diabetic retinopathy result when the abnormal blood vessels of the diabetic patient begin to leak or collapse. Non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy occurs when blood vessels leak and fluid accumulates in the retina. When the leakage is severe ("clinically significant macular edema"), laser surgery can be used to reduce or eliminate the associated retinal swelling. Vision may not usually improve with the laser treatment, but if performed early enough, it may stop further vision loss.


Proliferative diabetic retinopathy results from the collapse or closure of blood vessels. The retina becomes sick were the blood vessels have closed and releases stimulants for the growth or "proliferation" of new blood vessels. These new vessels are fragile and can easily bleed causing hemorrhage in the eye and blindness. Laser surgery can drastically reduce the risk of severe vision loss in patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy. When severe hemorrhage or scar tissue develops the microsurgical procedure termed vitrectomy may be required to restore vision. In addition, we are actively pursuing clinical research in this area as well.


Non Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy

People with diabetes can develop complications that affect their vision. High blood sugar causes damage to the blood vessels in the retina. Normally, these blood vessels are watertight; but, in patients with longstanding diabetes, leaky areas can develop. This allows fluid to seep into the retina. Macular Edema is the swelling caused by this fluid.

Treating the edema in the retina can often lead to improvement or preservation of vision. Laser treatment is often used. These complications of diabetes are more common in people who have poor medical control of their diabetes. Good control of diabetes is important to preserve vision. The result of good management of diabetes is not dramatic or even noticeable over the short term.

However, the odds of preserving your vision over the long term are greatly improved by good medical control not only of blood sugar levels, but also of high blood pressure, serum cholesterol and kidney disease, if these are also present. In some people, the benefit of laser procedures is overwhelmed by the severity of the leakage, and vision loss occurs despite thorough laser treatment.

Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy

Proliferative diabetic retinopathy results from the collapse or closure of blood vessels. The retina becomes sick were the blood vessels have closed and releases stimulants for the growth or "proliferation" of new blood vessels. These new vessels are fragile and can easily bleed causing hemorrhage in the eye and blindness.

Laser surgery can drastically reduce the risk of severe vision loss in patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy. When severe hemorrhage or scar tissue develops the microsurgical procedure termed vitrectomy may be required to restore vision. In addition, we are actively pursuing clinical research in this area as well.