Symptoms
Often, there are no symptoms in the early stages of diabetic retinopathy. Vision may seem unchanged until the disease becomes severe.
Eventually, the vision of a person with diabetic retinopathy may become blurred or blocked entirely. But even in more advanced cases the disease may progress without symptoms for a long time. That is why regular eye exams are so important for people with diabetes.
Dilated Eye Exam
Credit: National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health
Fluorescein Angiography
The blood vessels in the eyes cannot be distinguished from the surrounding structure of the eye in conventional imaging techniques. Doctors can however document potential damage caused by diabetic retinopathy by injecting a substance that "lights up" the veins. This simple procedure provides a clear picture of the retinal blood vessels for diagnosis.
This web resource is made possible through an unrestricted educational grant from Eli Lilly and Company.
Copyright © 2005 Prevent Blindness America ®
|
