DIABETIC RETINOPATHY TREATMENT IN SEATTLE

Not controlling your blood sugar levels can cause changes to the blood vessels inside the retina in the back of your eye. Blood vessels may swell or leak, or new abnormal blood vessels can grow that lead to gradual vision loss and eventual complete loss of vision that cannot be regained. This is diabetic retinopathy and may occur with type 1 diabetes or type 2 diabetes.

TREATING DIABETIC RETINOPATHY

People diagnosed with type 1 diabetes or type 2 diabetes may have a condition called diabetic retinopathy. The location of the disease and the degree of damage to the retina determines the type of treatment for diabetic retinopathy. There are two effective methods for reducing vision loss from diabetes, type 1 diabetes or type 2 diabetes. One method involves treatment with laser photocoagulation, a way of sealing off the leaking blood vessels and causing abnormal blood vessels to regress. A more recent approach involves placing drugs into the eye to modulate vascular permeability and reduce the inflammatory response within the retina.

PREVENTING DIABETIC RETINOPATHY

The best treatment for diabetic retinopathy is prevention. Early detection and management is important to prevent the development of the more sight damaging stages of the disease. Keeping blood sugar even and frequent eye examinations will help. With careful monitoring, treatment of diabetic retinopathy can be started long before sight is affected.

When your vision and eye health matter, discover great care from a board-certified ophthalmologist at CLEARVIEW Eye & Laser. Call 206.431.9600 in Burien or 206.937.9600 in Seattle. We also welcome patients from Kent, Renton, Vashon Island and surrounding areas.