Diabetic Retinopathy Fact Sheet H O M E Large Type version of this page Return to Your Eyes and You DIABETICRETINOPATHY Your Questions Answered WHAT IS diabetic retinopathy? http://www.eri.harvard.edu/text/dr.text.html
Extractions: WHAT IS DIABETIC RETINOPATHY? A complication of diabetes mellitus, diabetic retinopathy is the leading cause of blindness in people ages 40 to 60 in the U.S. Diabetes is characterized by excessively high levels of glucose (blood sugar) in the blood, resulting from the body's inability to properly utilize certain food elements like sugar and starches. Diabetes manifests itself throughout the body and can cause kidney failure, heart disease, and blindness. While diabetes can affect many parts of the eye, its mostcommon manifestation takes the form of diabetic retinopathy. Diabetic retinopathy affects the retina, the light-sensitive tissue that lines the eye's back wall. There are two forms of the disease; nonproliferative (or background) retinopathy and proliferative retinopathy. Background retinopathy can be a precursor to the more serious proliferative retinopathy. With background retinopathy, the blood vessels in the retina change in diameter some shrink and others swell. This disturbs blood flow in the retina; it may lead to hemorrhaging or to restriction of vital blood supply in other areas. This condition is usually not sight-threatening, but it can be a warning sign of further damage and should be monitored carefully. Fortunately, in about 60% of diabetic patients with background retinopathy, the condition does not worsen.
EyeHealth Northwest: Medical / Sergical Services - Diabetes diabetic retinopathy What are the types of diabetes? diabetic retinopathy is theleading cause of new cases of legal blindness among workingage Americans. http://www.ehnpc.com/services-diabetes.html
Extractions: What are the types of diabetes? Diabetic retinopathy is the leading cause of new cases of legal blindness among working-age Americans. Over 16 million American have diabetes. In general, there are two forms of diabetes. Type 1, previously called juvenile-onset or insulin dependent diabetes is characterized by a deficiency of insulin. Type 2, previously called adult-onset or non-insulin dependent is characterized by insulin resistance. Ninety percent of patients with diabetes have type 2 diabetes. Return to Top
Diabetes And Your Eyes Retina affected by diabetic retinopathy, Normal Retina. top. Who is at risk ofdeveloping diabetic retinopathy? top. Can diabetic retinopathy be treated? Yes. http://iris.medoph.unimelb.edu.au/new/eyecare/diabetes.html
Extractions: Image courtesty of American Academy of Ophthalmology Diabetes causes damage to the blood vessels that nourish the retina , the seeing part at the back of the eye. In people with diabetes the retinal blood vessels may expand and leak fluid. This is an early form of diabetic retinopathy called nonproliferative or background retinopathy. You may not notice any change in your vision when you develop this early form of the disease, but it can lead to other more serious forms of retinopathy that affect your vision. When fluid collects in the macula (the part of the retina that allows us to see fine details), reading and other close work may become difficult. This is called
Diabetic Eye Disease Once diabetic retinopathy has been detected, two treatment options arevery effective in reducing vision loss caused by the disease. http://healthlink.mcw.edu/article/932516761.html
Extractions: Subscribe now >> Many people with diabetes may be having their sight stolen by a silent thief themselves. Millions of Americans with diabetes are robbing themselves of their sight as a result of not maintaining control over their blood sugar levels and not undergoing yearly eye examinations. Diabetic retinopathy, a potentially blinding complication of diabetes, is a serious threat to the 16 million Americans with diabetes. Studies show that half of these individuals (8 million Americans) will be afflicted with diabetic retinopathy. Individuals with Type I or Type 2 diabetes are at risk for blindness from the disease. Diabetic retinopathy often has no early warning signs. If undetected and untreated, diabetic retinopathy causes the small blood vessels in thc back of the eye to leak or burst. Blood leaking into the eye causes clouding and blurry vision in early stages. If treatment is not sought and more leakage occurs, permanent blindness is imminent. TIGHT BLOOD SUGAR CONTROL CAN SPARE SIGHT The 10-vear Diabetes Control and Complications Trial (DCCT) showed that good blood sugar control slows the onset and progression of retinopathy and lessens the need for laser surgery for severe retinopathy. It is important to see your doctor regularly and establish good blood sugar control in order to prevent diabetic retinopathy and other complications.
Extractions: A microvascular disease that primarily affects the capillaries, diabetes mellitus affects the eye by destroying the vasculature in the conjunctiva, retina and central nervous system. Patients may present with histories of long-standing injected bulbar conjunctivae along with systemic complaints of weight loss despite larger than normal appetite (polyphasia), abnormal thirst (polydypsia) and abnormally frequent urination (polyuria). Fluctuating visual acuity secondary to unstable blood sugar is a common ocular sign. Swelling within the crystalline lens results in large sudden shifts in refraction as well as premature cataract formation. Changes in visual acuity will depend upon the severity and stage of the disease. In the retina, weakening of the arterioles and capillaries may result in the characteristic appearance of intraretinal dot and blot hemorrhages, exudates, intraretinal microvascular abnormalities (IRMA) microaneurysms, edema and cotton wool infarcts. Proliferative diabetic retinopathy is the result of severe vascular compromise and is visible as neovascularization of the disc (NVD), neovascularization elsewhere (NVE) and neovascularization of the iris (NVI, or rubeosis irides). Neurological complications include palsies of the third, fourth and sixth cranial nerves as well as diabetic papillitis and facial nerve paralysis. PATHOPHYSIOLOGY
JDRF Center For Diabetic Complications this disease diabetic neuropathy (progressive nerve damage), diabetic nephropathy(progressive kidney damage), and diabetic retinopathy (progressive retinal http://www.umich.edu/~jdrf/
Extractions: The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation Center for the Study of Complications in Diabetes brings together some of the world's leading authorities to find new ways to understand and treat three of the m ost devastating complications of this disease: diabetic neuropathy (progressive nerve damage), diabetic nephropathy (progressive kidney damage), and diabetic retinopathy (progressive retinal damage). Diabetic neuropathy leads to loss of feeling in the feet and hands, and is the most common cause of nontraumatic amputations not due to accidents in the United States. Diabetic neuropathy can also affect the autonomic nervous system, which controls cardiovascular, digestive and other vital functions. Diabetic nephropathy is the number one cause of renal failure requiring dialysis in our country. Diabetic retinopathy impairs eyesight and is the nation's leading cause of nontraumatic blindness.
Links & Info diabetic retinopathy. What is diabetic retinopathy? diabetic retinopathy Whois most at risk of developing diabetic retinopathy? Those people http://www.optelec.com/Links.asp
Extractions: Vision Conditions Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) What is age-related macular degeneration? Age-related macular degeneration is a disease that is caused by damage to tissues that provide physiological support to the light-sensitive cells in the retina. There are two major forms, the dry form and the wet, or exudative, form. The dry form is much more common, but the wet form is responsible for the vast majority of severe vision loss due to macular degeneration. Is aging an important factor? Yes. Few cases of visually impairing macular degeneration occur among persons under the age of 60. After 60, the frequency of this disease rises dramatically with age. Among those 75 and older, more than one-third are affected, with approximately 3 percent having the late stages of the disease. What are the symptoms?
Eye Diseases And Diabetes Diabetes can cause degenerative eye diseases such as diabetic retinopathyand cataracts, and has the potential to cause blindness. http://diabetes.about.com/cs/eyedisease/
Diabetic Retinopathy diabetic retinopathy. Blindness Visually Impairment Information. BACKTO THE TOP. What is diabetic retinopathy? diabetic retinopathy http://www.sensoryaccess.com/blind-information/diabetic.html
Extractions: If you have diabetes mellitus, your body does not use and store sugar properly. Diabetes can cause high blood-sugar levels, excessive thirst and urination. It can also cause changes in the body's blood vessels, the veins and arteries that carry blood throughout your body. Because diabetes affects your body in these ways, it can affect vision by caus-ing cataracts, glaucoma and, most importantly, damage to blood vessels inside the eye. BACK TO THE TOP What is diabetic retinopathy? Diabetic retinopathy is a complication of diabetes that is caused by changes in the blood vessels of the eye. The retina is a nerve layer at the back of the eye that senses light and helps to send images to your brain. When blood vessels in the retina are damaged, they may leak fluid or blood, and grow fragile, brush-like branches and scar tissue. This can blur or distort the images that the retina sends to the brain. Diabetic retinopathy is the leading cause of new blindness among adults in the United States. People with untreated diabetes are said to be 25 times more at risk for blindness than the general population.
Diabetes Diabetes. It is estimated that more than 200 million people have diabetes.They are at risk of losing sight due to diabetic retinopathy. http://www.lionsclubs.org/EN/content/programs_diab.shtml
Extractions: Select a Language ... Hearing Diabetes It is estimated that more than 200 million people have diabetes. They are at risk of losing sight due to diabetic retinopathy. Diabetic retinopathy affects the retina,the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye that transmits visual messages via the optic nerve to the brain. When this delicate tissue is damaged by diabetic retinopathy, the result may be visual impairment or blindness. Diabetes awareness was adopted as a long-term commitment of the association in March 1984. The primary objective of the Lions program is to reduce the number of new cases of blindness caused by diabetic retinopathy through diabetes education, early detection and treatment, and support of research. Lions are especially encouraged to conduct awareness activities during the month of NovemberLions Diabetes Education Month. Why is it important to know how diabetes affects the eyes? If you have diabetesor if someone close to you has this diseaseyou should know that diabetes can affect the eyes and cause visual impairment. Fortunately, there are ways to prevent or lessen damage to the eyes caused by diabetes. That is why it is so important for people with this disease to have a professional eye examination as soon as their diabetes is diagnosed, and at least once a year thereafter.
Quick Facts Center - Health What is diabetic retinopathy Over time, diabetes can damage small blood vesselsthroughout the body. How do I know if I have diabetic retinopathy? http://www.mainetoday.com/quickfacts/health-eyesurgery.shtml
Extractions: Eye Surgery Eye Surgery Most people who wear glasses and contact lenses wish they didn't need them. Fortunately, there is an alternative that may reduce your dependence on corrective lenses and possibly eliminate your need for them completely. Laser vision correction has transformed lives. The ability to see more clearly without the inconvenience of contact lenses and glasses has inspired people to explore new horizons in vision correction. What is Lasik? LASIK, medically known as Laser Assisted In-Situ Keratomileusis, is a type of laser vision correction that is used to reshape the cornea, correcting vision. How soon after surgery will my vision improve?
Extractions: Contact Joslin The 20 th But challenges remain in the 21 st Century if the ultimate goal is to eliminate blindness resulting from the complications of diabetes. The Joslin Vision Network employs telemedicine technology to facilitate remote access of diabetic patients for imaging the retina without the need for pupil dilation. The JVN eye care program is designed to identify significant retinal lesions of diabetes based on the Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study criteria and to determine a diagnosis and treatment plan based on this level of retinopathy. Why JVN? Examination with the JVN provides a unique approach to diabetes care and management of diabetic eye disease. The JVN technology permits diagnosis of clinical levels of diabetic retinopathy, with recommendation for management, consultation, and surgical treatment when indicated. Additionally, the JVN addresses medical management of diabetes, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, renal disease, level of glycemic control and other systemic conditions that can either impact on diabetic eye disease or the diabetic condition. These issues are addressed both in the electronic medical record that is intimately associated with each patient encounter, and in the diagnosis for level of retinopathy that is generated by the evaluation of retinal images in the JVN reading center.
Preserving The Miracle Of... - The Advent Of Argon Center. In 1963 he began working with the ruby laser photocoagulator,using it in an attempt to treat diabetic retinopathy . The http://www.beyonddiscovery.org/content/view.asp?I=408
Telemedicine: Diabetic Retinopathy Screening: Currents: UI Health Care Telemedicine diabetic retinopathy Screening. Figure 2. 45 degree digital fundusphotographs of a patient with proliferative diabetic retinopathy. http://www.uihealthcare.com/news/currents/vol3issue3/8diabeticretinopathy.html
Extractions: University of Iowa Currents: Summer 2002, Volume 3, Number 3 When diagnosed at a very early stage, diabetic retinopathy can be treated, preserving vision and often preventing blindness. In a collaborative effort, the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences has joined with General Endocrinology and Diabetes Services and the Department of Family Medicine to initiate a screening program that uses digital images of the retina to help identify early signs of retinopathy in diabetic patients. Figure 1. Two digital fundus cameras will be placed on location in the Endocrinology Clinic and the UI Family Care Center. As part of a routine visit, diabetic patients will have photographs taken of their eyes by qualified nurses or technicians. Using telecommunication technology, the images will be transferred from these remote clinics to the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences for evaluation. Karen Gehrs, M.D.
Extractions: Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy can be seen in the eye with an ophthalmoscope as neovascularization, a proliferative growth of abnormal new blood vessels. Neovascularization appears as a twisted collection of blood vessels and is quite dangerous because these vessels grow abnormally out of the retina into the clear vitreous gel. This abnormal growth of blood vessels can be seen in the center of this picture. Right above the center is an example of the vessels groeing out of the retina. Because vessels grow beyond the supporting structure of the retina, they are very prone to bleeding, especially when they occur near the disc, the area where blood vessels and nerves enter the eye. Any jerking motion or even a rise in the blood pressure can lead to a rupture of one of these abnormal vessels and cause an hemorrhage. Bleeding into the vitreous stops the transmission of light into the eye and may be noticed as red, grey, or black blots in the visual field. If bleeding is extensive, a rapid, painless blackening of vision occurs. Later, over a period of weeks, blood slowly clears from the vitreous cavity and vision returns. At that point, an ophthalmologist can start to see the retina and use laser treatments to close off these dangerous blood vessels.
Background Diabetic Retinopathy Eye complications, background diabetic retinopathy, three types of damage microaneurisms,hemorrhages hard exudates. Background diabetic retinopathy. http://www.diabetesnet.com/diabetes_complications/diabetes_eye_background.php
Extractions: Proliferative Retinopathy ... Amsler Test Background diabetic retinopathy or BDR is named appropriately because it sits in the background, not itself a danger to vision, but is instead a warning sign that serious damage may be starting. Directly above the white arrows in the picture are two small flmae shaped hemorrhages with tiny microaneurisms seen along either side of the vessel between the arrows. This warning sign is difficult to interpret-80% of people who have had diabetes for over 20 years have some BDR, but only about 1 out of every 4 or 5 of those with BDR will eventually suffer measurable vision impairment. BDR consists of: Microaneurisms : these are usually the earliest visible change in retinopathy seen on exam with an ophthalmoscope as scattered red spots in the retina where tiny, weakened blood vessels have ballooned out. Hemorrhages : bleeding occurs from damaged blood vessels into the retinal layers. This will not affect vision unless the bleeding occurs in or near the
Extractions: Diabetic Retinopathy Diabetes mellitus and your vision Diabetes mellitus effects fourteen million Americans. Twenty-five percent of diabetics have some form of diabetic retinopathy. Diabetic retinopathy accounts for twenty percent of new cases of blindness in the United States between the ages of forty-five and seventy-four. Blindness is twenty-five times more common in diabetics than in nondiabetics. However, proper management of diabetes and its ocular complications can reduce the risk of blindness by ninety percent. It is important to take an active role in controlling this disease. The information below can help you understand more about diabetes and what you can do to prevent its complications. Diabetes mellitus: the disease There are two main types of diabetic retinopathy. The first type is called Type I or insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. This type typically starts at a young age and requires insulin for treatment. Insulin is a substance that the pancreas produces to lower blood glucose levels. The second type is called Type II or non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. People affected by this type are usually over the age of forty. Type II is often controlled with diet alone or diet and oral medications that lower the glucose level. High levels of glucose in the blood can damage many organ systems, including the eye. The cause of diabetes mellitus is not completely known. Genetic, environmental, autoimmune and infectious components may play a role in its development.