Diabetic Retinopathy

If you have diabetes, your body struggles to maintain proper levels of blood glucose. High blood glucose levels can damage blood vessels in the retina and lead to diabetic retinopathy, which can include complications such as micro-aneurysms, abnormal vessel formation, vitreous hemorrhage, and optic nerve damage.
Early detection of diabetic retinopathy is the best protection against loss of vision. By maintaining normal blood glucose levels and controlling your diabetes, the risk of developing a vision problem is minimized.

Diabetic Retinopathy Treatment

The best long term treatment is to successfully control all of the risk factors that are associated with diabetes including obesity, elevated blood glucose, and hypertension. Diabetic retinopathy progression can be minimized if it is diagnosed early in the disease process.  OMNI has the latest in instrumentation to assist in determining what options are available for your form of Diabetic Retinopathy.

• Laser surgery - Depending on the condition of the eye, a variety of laser treatments can be used to shrink abnormal blood vessels and reduce fluid leakage inside the eye. While the goal of laser surgery is preventing further loss of vision, it does not cure diabetic retinopathy. Furthermore, depending on the severity of diabetes, additional vision loss may occur.
• Vitrectomy - With advanced cases, vitreous hemorrhage may occur. In this situation, the growth of abnormal blood vessels causes severe bleeding in the back portion of the eye. Microsurgery can be performed to remove the abnormal vitreous membranes and the blood.