What Causes Advanced Diabetic Retinopathy?

What causes advanced diabetic retinopathy?

Diabetic retinopathy is a rare complication of diabetes mellitus in which your eyes get affected. Advanced diabetic retinopathy causes the retina to lose its supply of blood and grow new but defective blood vessels – this process is known as neovascularization. The brittle vessels may easily break and leak into the vitreous gel of the eye, ultimately leading to a detached retina. The condition may ultimately lead to blindness or loss of vision. These new vessels may also prevent the fluid from flowing within the eye, causing glaucoma.

Factors Leading to Advanced Diabetic Retinopathy

Anybody who has diabetes is likely to develop advanced diabetic retinopathy. In due course of time, excess sugar in the blood may block the small blood vessels, which nourish your retina, cutting off its blood supply. As a result, the eye attempts to grow new blood vessels. However, because these vessels do not properly develop, there are chances of leakage.

Besides, there are certain factors that put you at greater risk of advanced diabetic retinopathy. These may include –

• Elevated blood pressure
• High cholesterol
• Tobacco use
• Pregnancy

The longer you live with diabetes, the more chances you have of reaching the advanced stage of diabetic retinopathy.

How to Tell if You Have Advanced Diabetic Retinopathy

Diabetic retinopathy does not reveal symptoms in the initial stage. People are likely to notice the signs only when the condition reaches an advanced stage. The only detectable sign is a complete and sudden loss of vision.

Nevertheless, you should watch out for the following symptoms –

• Blurred vision
• Impairment of colour vision
• Poor night vision
• Streaks or patches impeding vision
• Colourless and transparent spots, dark strings floating in the field of vision

Diabetic retinopathy can affect both the eyes. It is essential to make sure that the risk of vision loss or blindness is minimized. The only way to prevent advanced diabetic retinopathy is to get an eye check-up done at regular intervals.