We discern four stages in diabetic retinopathy:

Stage 1: Mild nonproliferative retinopathy

Small balloon-like swellings appear in the blood vessels in the retina. This is known as microaneurysms.

Stage 2: Moderate nonproliferative retinopathy

During this stage some of the blood vessels that supplies the retina with blood, nutrients and oxygen gets blocked off completely, causing ischemia (lack of oxygen) to certain parts of the retina. As we all know, oxygen is much needed to sustain life and keep organs functioning.

Stage 3: Severe nonproliferative retinopathy

As the disease progress, many more blood vessels gets blocked off which is now depriving the retina of a great deal of nutrients and oxygen. The body in response will send a signal to the brain that it is in need of more oxygen, which the body will then grow more blood vessels on the retina to rectify the ischemia.

Stage 4: Proliferative retinopathy

At this stage the new blood vessels are growing on the retina in order to restore blood supply to the affected areas of the retina. This is a very advanced stage of the disease and the blood vessels are abnormal and fragile.

These blood vessels grow along the retina and the clear gel inside the eye. These bloods vessels are very thin and do not cause any visual impairment, but if they leak blood, severe vision loss and blindness will be the result.

When bleeding in the eye occurs, it can either bleed into the vitreous humour or onto the macula, causing macular edema. Macular edema can happen at any time during the disease.

If the bleeding is inside the vitreous humour, the sufferer can have total vision loss and the retina may even become detached from the surface. This is known as retinal detachment.

With treatment most sight-threatening diabetic problems can be prevented if diagnosed early enough.

It is vital to go for an annual visual acuity tests and dilated eye exams. It is also vital to have the pressure inside your eye tested to make sure that there is not an increase in eye pressure. Even if there is no sign of retinopathy, it is still imperative to have your eyes tested as changes can occur without the sufferer experiencing any symptoms.

Your optometrist will check your eyes for early signs of:

• Leaking blood vessels
• Damaged nerve tissue
• Any changes to blood vessels
• Retinal edema (swelling)

Prevention is better than cure, so take care of your eyes…. It is your most priced possession.

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