Diabetic Retinopathy - Other Treatment

SYMPTOMS & TREATMENTS

Laser treatment (photocoagulation) can be an effective treatment for diabetic retinopathy. But it does not cure the disease. It can prevent, delay, and sometimes reverse vision loss. Without either laser treatment or surgery, vision loss caused by diabetic retinopathy and its complications may get worse until blindness occurs. So early treatment is vital to slowing vision loss, which can happen quickly.

When diabetic retinopathy causes bleeding (hemorrhage) into the vitreous gel, extensive scar tissue formation, or retinal detachment, surgical removal of the vitreous gel (vitrectomy) may be needed before laser treatment is considered.

Unfortunately, by the time some people are diagnosed with diabetic retinopathy, it is often too late for treatment to provide much benefit. Even with treatment, vision will continue to decline.

Early detection of retinopathy through dilated eye exams can provide the opportunity to have laser treatment when it is most effective.

Other Treatment Choices

Laser photocoagulation uses the heatfrom a laser to seal or destroy abnormal, leaking blood vessels in theretina. It can cause the abnormal, weak blood vessels to shrink.

Anti-VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor) drugs have been used to treat age-related macular degeneration with good success. These drugs are being studied for the treatment of diabetic macular edema from diabetic retinopathy. The use of these medicines is very new, and research is ongoing to find out if they are as good as, or better than, laser treatment.

What To Think About

Pan-retinallaser treatment is used to treat several spots on the retina during one or,most often, two sessions. It reduces the risk of serious bleeding and theprogression of severe proliferative retinopathy.

Laser photocoagulation can result in some loss of vision, because it destroys some of the nerve cells in the retina and can cause the abnormal blood vessels to go away. With pan-retinal photocoagulation, this most often affects the outside (peripheral) vision, because the laser is directed at that area. Your vision may be worse right after treatment. But vision loss caused by laser treatment is mild compared with the vision loss that may be caused by untreated retinopathy.

By: Healthwise StaffLast Revised: March 22, 2011
Medical Review: Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine
Carol L. Karp, MD - Ophthalmology
Christopher J. Rudnisky, MD, MPH, FRCSC - Ophthalmology

1995-2011 Healthwise, Incorporated. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated. This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use. How this information was developed to help you make better health decisions.

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