Laser treatment for diabetic retinopathy
There are some people who are not aware what diabetic retinopathy is. These people need to know that it is complication of diabetes and that it can severely damage the vision of a person. It is not that uncommon for a person to end up being blind because of this condition. Out of all the causes of blindness for people aged between 20 and 65, this is the leading cause. According to some researches, people who suffer from diabetes have a much greater chance of ending up blind. Diabetes is known to cause some problems if it is not treated. A person’s wall of the small blood vessels can get thicker and that will lead to the narrowing of the lumen. This narrowing hugely affects the blood circulations and in that case some organs cannot get the amount of blood they need to function properly. Retina or the lining at the back of the eye is one of the areas that can get affected.
Types of diabetic retinopathy
People should know that there are two types of diabetic retinopathy and they are the non-proliferative/background type and the proliferative type. The first one is not as severe as the second one and it appears in the early stages of the disease. On the other hand, the proliferative type is more severe and it is present in the later stages of the disease. In case of non-proliferative retinopathy, the small blood vessels are likely to burst, which can cause vision problems due to the bleeding in the retina. In case of proliferative retinopathy, the retina develops a lot of new small blood vessels and these vessels can cover the macula. These vessels are also likely to burst and cause vision problems. If a person ends up with a retinal detachment, he or she must know that it is an emergency condition and that it can have a detrimental effect on vision. It is important for people with diabetes to go on regular eye check-ups.
The operation
People need to know that this procedure is done in one day and a person goes home after it. An injection is needed in order for the patient not to experience any pain at all. People should know that the laser light which is used in this operation works in two ways. The light can scar the vessels that have the tendency to bleed and therefore prevent further bleeding and it can destroy the substances in the retina that aid in the development of small vessels.
People need to know that the laser surgery is the only way to treat diabetic retinopathy.
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