Diabetic Retinopathy

There are non-invasive and non-surgical options for preventing or treating diabetic eye disorders. Controlling your blood sugar and high blood pressure are two of the best things you can do to protect your eye health.

Medical Injection Therapy: A treatment is medication injection therapy. It is used to treat macular edema-an eye disorder caused by diabetic retinopathy. Anti-vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (Anti-VEGF) is known to work well in slowing the growth of blood vessels and reducing macular edema.

Anti-VEGF drugs target a chemical in the eye called vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) that plays a key role in blood vessel abnormalities in the retina. An anti-VEGF drug can help treat macular edema by blocking the VEGF chemical, which slows their leakage in the eye. Anti-VEGF can also help reduce the growth of abnormal blood vessels.

CHRISTUS Trinity Clinic - DeHaven performs medication injection therapy in the office. An anesthetic is applied to numb the eye and a tiny needle is inserted into the eye to deliver the medication near the retina.

Laser treatments for diabetic eye disorders generally target areas of diabetic damage. Some treat leaking blood vessels directly by spot sealing the area of leakage. Lasers also may be used to treat areas of weak blood supply in the periphery of the retina.

The two types of laser treatments most commonly used to treat diabetic eye disorders are:

Focal or Grid Laser Photocoagulation: In this type of surgery, the laser is focused directly on the leaky blood vessels and area of swelling in the retina. This procedure is usually completed in one session, but if both eyes need treatment, two separate sessions will be scheduled. Prior to Laser, a fluorescein angiogram is performed. This is a dye test that outlines the areas of leaky blood vessels and guides the Laser treatment.

Scatter (panretinal) Laser Photocoagulation: This method applies laser spots to the periphery of the retina in the area of weak blood supply. The Laser helps reduce the growth of abnormal blood vessels and stabilize the diabetic changes.

Laser treatment for diabetic retinopathy does not improve vision, but is designed to prevent further vision loss. Even people with 20/20 vision who meet treatment guidelines should consider laser therapy as a means of protecting themselves from future diabetes-related vision loss.

Surgical Treatment: There are times surgical treatment is required for diabetic retinopathy. The doctors at CHRISTUS Trinity Clinic - DeHaven can assist in evaluating the treatment options should surgery become necessary.