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Diabetic retinopathy occurs in approximately 90% of individuals with diabetes mellitus after 10–15 years of the disease. If left undetected and untreated, it can lead to severe damage to the fundus of the eye and may ultimately result in blindness. Join Hikari Eye Care as we explore the causes and treatment of diabetic retinopathy in the article below.
What Is Diabetic Retinopathy?
Diabetic retinopathy is a chronic metabolic disorder affecting the retina, which can lead to blindness. Diabetic retinopathy typically occurs in patients with diabetes mellitus (both Type 1 and Type 2). It is one of three non-communicable diseases — alongside cancer and cardiovascular disease — with the fastest-growing incidence worldwide.
Diabetes mellitus is classified into two main types: Type 1 and Type 2. Type 1 diabetes most commonly affects individuals between the ages of 10 and 20, while Type 2 diabetes predominantly occurs in adults aged 50–70. Diabetes causes complications affecting the eyes, heart, kidneys, and nervous system, with ocular complications being particularly significant.
What Causes Diabetic Retinopathy?
The retina is the neural layer of the eye responsible for receiving light and transmitting visual images from the eye to the brain, and vice versa. It relays the images that the brain processes back to the eye, with the macula being the most critical region for central visual acuity. Diabetic retinopathy is a retinal disease caused by diabetes mellitus, occurring in the vast majority of patients after more than 10–15 years of living with the disease.
It is estimated that after 15 years of diabetes, 2% of patients will become blind and 10% will develop significantly impaired vision. Patients with diabetes must maintain a well-balanced diet and healthy lifestyle and attend regular medical check-ups. Additionally, individuals with hypertension, renal impairment, smoking habits, or obesity are at substantially higher risk of developing diabetic retinopathy.
Common Symptoms of Diabetic Retinopathy
In most cases of diabetic retinopathy, patients do not present with obvious symptoms in the early stages. By the time patients notice a decline in visual acuity (blurred vision), retinal damage has already occurred — and at this point, the disease has typically progressed to an advanced stage. For this reason, patients with diabetic retinopathy should undergo regular eye examinations to enable early detection and timely treatment of diabetic retinopathy.
One of the reputable ophthalmology centers in Ho Chi Minh City that you can consult is Hikari Eye Care. Hikari Eye Care currently operates two locations — one in District 1 and the Hikari Myopia Control Center — for your convenience. Our team of highly specialized ophthalmologists brings years of experience and is committed to providing dedicated, responsible care. You can be fully confident in the quality of care at Hikari Eye Care.
Stages of Diabetic Retinopathy
Diabetic retinopathy is difficult to detect in its early stages. The disease typically progresses through the following stages.
Background (Non-Proliferative) Diabetic Retinopathy
This is the early stage of diabetic retinopathy, characterized by retinal lesions such as microaneurysms, intraretinal exudates and fluid accumulation, mild hemorrhages, and macular edema.
If the lesions at this stage have not yet involved the macular region, visual acuity is generally not affected — making the condition very difficult to detect. However, patients may experience subtle visual disturbances such as the appearance of floaters (dark spots or floating objects in the visual field) or changes in color perception.
Diabetic Maculopathy
Đây là nguyên nhân phổ biến nhất gây giảm thị lực ở bệnh nhân tiểu đường, đặc biệt là thể bệnh không phụ thuộc insulin, từ 50 đến 70 tuổi. Hoàng điểm (nơi thị lực cao nhất trong mắt) sẽ phù nề, đôi khi tạo thành nang hoặc kèm theo tổn thương do thiếu máu cục bộ.
Bệnh lý võng mạc đái tháo đường tiền tăng sinh
Vì sự bất thường trong việc cung cấp máu cho võng mạc nên đã dẫn đến các tổn thương võng mạc. Nếu những tổn thương này chưa xâm lấn đến vùng hoàng điểm thì bệnh nhân chưa nhận thấy thị lực giảm. Vì vậy, dù tổn thương võng mạc khá nặng nhưng người bệnh vẫn chưa nhận biết được bệnh võng mạc đái tháo đường. Do đó, họ thường không đi khám và điều trị.
Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy
This advanced stage is characterized by pathological neovascularization (abnormal new blood vessel growth), leading to recurrent vitreous hemorrhage, fibrovascular proliferation, and tractional forces on the retina. The consequences include severe retinal damage, retinal tears, or tractional retinal detachment — potentially resulting in blindness.
Treatment Options for Diabetic Retinopathy
Effective treatments for diabetic retinopathy are now available. These include retinal laser photocoagulation, intravitreal injections of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) agents and anti-macular edema medications, as well as vitrectomy and surgical management of retinal detachment for late-stage complications.
However, the most fundamental and widely used treatment for diabetic retinopathy remains retinal laser photocoagulation. The laser is used to ablate abnormal retinal areas, destroy pathological neovascular tissue, and treat macular edema as well as peripheral retinal lesions.
Diabetic Retinopathy Screening Process at Hikari Eye Care
Hikari Eye Care currently offers a diabetic retinopathy screening package at highly affordable rates, accessible to all patient groups. Equipped with advanced diagnostic technology and a team of experienced ophthalmologists, we are committed to delivering accurate assessments and appropriate treatment solutions. The diabetic retinopathy screening process consists of the following key steps:
Bước 1: Khám tổng quát và đánh giá chức năng mắt của bệnh nhân.
Bước 2: Khám đáy mắt và chụp hình đáy mắt để nhận định tổn thương.
Step 3: Trong trường hợp xuất hiện tổn thương thì bác sĩ sẽ chụp OCT và chụp mạch máu huỳnh quang để đánh giá.
Through the information shared in this article, Hikari Eye Care hopes to have helped you gain a deeper understanding of diabetic retinopathy and the serious risks this condition poses to your vision and overall eye health.
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