Transcript Diabetic Retinopathy

Diabetic Retinopathy
Tina Duke Salazar
Sandy Haney
Sharon Grissom
Diabetic Retinopathy
Early detection, education, and research are
the keys to preventing diabetic retinopathy.
Skilled professionals, such as TVI, are the
keys to helping students live well while
coping with this disease.
Facts About Diabetic
Retinopathy
 Diabetes is the major cause of blindness in
adults ages 20-74.
 Diabetic Retinopathy is the largest example
of diabetic eye disease.
 Up to 24,000 Americans lose their sight
yearly due to diabetic retinopathy.
(Chous, 2006)
Risks
 Anyone with diabetes is at risk of diabetic
retinopathy.
 Approximately 45% of diabetic Americans
have diabetic retinopathy.
(Burlington-Phillips, 2007)
Four Stages of Diabetic
Retinopathy
 1. Mild Nonproliferative Retinopathy
 2. Moderate Nonproliferative Retinopathy
 3. Severe Nonproliferative Retinopathy
 4. Proliferative Retinopathy
(National Eye Institute, 2006)
Mild Nonproliferative
Retinopathy
 Microaneurysms are the first occurrences
of diabetic retinopathy. This happens
when the tiny blood vessels of the retina
begin to swell.
Moderate Nonproliferative
Retinopathy
 Moderate---This is a progressive eye
disease and damage to the blood vessels
grows. The blood vessels become blocked.
Severe Nonproliferative
Retinopathy
 Severe---Blood supply is blocked causing
the eye to signal the need for new blood
vessels. Parts of the retina are deprived
of blood and nourishment.
Proliferative Retinopathy
Proliferative---The retina sends signals so
new blood vessels are created. These
blood vessels are abnormal and more
likely to hemorrhage due to the thin walls
of the vessel. The walls of these vessels
are weak and soon begin to hemorrhage.
Diabetic Retinopathy is caused when chronic high blood
sugar damages the small blood vessels nourishing the
retina. This will eventually affect both eyes.
(National Eye Institute 2003)
In the latest stage of diabetic retinopathy, vision loss is
characterized by blurriness, spots, and sometimes
blindness.
(National Eye Institute, 2003)
Functional Implications
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Difficulty with fine details
Visual fluctuations
Seeing rippled images
Blurred, hazy or double vision
Some loss of field vision
Difficulty seeing at night or in low light
Sensitivity to light or glare
Trouble focusing images
Treatment
 Patient Education
It is NOT inevitable. Diabetic Retinopathy has
few symptoms but can be treated if diagnosed
early.
 Controlling blood sugar
 Laser photocoagulation---laser beams seal vessels
and stop new blood vessel growth
 Vitrectomy---removes blood and scar tissue to
allow light refraction
(Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation International, 2007)
Research
The National Eye Institute is conducting
research with hopeful drugs that may stop
the retina from sending alarm signals to
promote new vessel growth.
Reference List
 Burling-Phillips, L. (2007). Diabetic retinopathy: covering the bases.
American Academy of Opthalmology. Retrieved July 16, 2007,
from http://www.aao.org/publications/eyenet/200605/retina.
Chous, A. (2006). What is diabetic eye disease? Retrieved July 16,
2007, from http://www.diabeticeyes.com
 Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation International. (2007).
Eye disease/diabetic retinopathy. Retrieved July 15, 2007, from
http://www.jdrf.org/index.cfm?page_id=106412
 National Eye Institute.(2006). Diabetic Retinopathy. Retrieved July 15,
2007, from
http://www.nei.nih.gov/health/diabetic/retinopathy.asp