How is diabetes-related retinopathy treated?

How is diabetes-related retinopathy treated?

Your healthcare provider will consider several factors when creating a treatment plan, including:

• Age.
• Medical history.
• Extent of retinal damage.
• Visual acuity.
• HgbA1c.

In the early stages of the disease, your healthcare provider may use a wait-and-see approach especially in the setting of good vision. During this phase, you have regular eye exams but don’t need further treatment. Some people need eye exams every two to four months.

Other treatment options include:

• Injections: Your healthcare provider injects medication, such as anti-vascular endothelial growth factor drugs or corticosteroids, into your eye. These medicines help slow down disease progression and improve vision.
• Laser surgery: Your healthcare provider uses a laser to reduce swelling in your retina and new blood vessel growth. The lasers shrink blood vessels or stop leaking.
• Vitrectomy: Your healthcare provider may recommend this outpatient eye surgery if you have cloudy vision due to leaking blood vessels. During a vitrectomy, the eye doctor makes a small incision in the eye. The provider can repair the blood vessels and remove scar tissue.