Diabetes is a chronic disease with the potential of affecting all organs and organ systems. One of the threated complications is Diabetic Retinopathy. It involves changes to retinal blood vessels that can cause them to bleed or leak fluid, impairing vision. About 60% of diabetics develop retinopathy during the first 20 years of the disease.

Diabetic retinopathy is the most common reason of vision loss among diabetics and the leading cause of blindness among the adult population. There may be no or only mild symptoms at the beginning but eventually significant impairment of the vision or even blindness can develop. Potentially harmful changes often go unnoticed for a long time. Annual screening examination of your eyes is advocated for this reason in order to detect diabetic retinopathy at an early stage.

Remember: Diabetes doesn’t necessarily lead to vision loss. Careful management of your diabetes is the only way to prevent or at least to limit eye complications. Once damage happened to the retina, it usually is irreversible. Early detection, timely treatment and rigorous follow up can reduce the risk of blindness by 95%.

Diabetic Retinopathy can be treated and the progression slowed down with several therapeutic modalities, including medication, laser therapy or eye surgery. However, treatment of retinopathy usually cannot restore loss of vision.

Stay of TRACK to protect your vision:

• T – Take your medication as described by your doctor
• R – Reach and maintain healthy weight
• A – Add more physical activity to your daily routine
• C – Control your ABCs (HbA1C, blood pressure, cholesterol levels)
• K – Kick the smoking habit

Symptoms of Diabetic Retinopathy:

• Spots or dark strings floating in your vision (floaters)
• Impaired color vision
• Dark or empty areas in your vision
• Complete blindness

We cordially invite you to join our Amber Diabetes Registry or our Amber Diabetes Patient Education Program. Our highly specialized interdisciplinary Diabetes Care Team is looking forward to take care of you.