The location of the disease and the degree of damage to the
retina determines the type of treatment of diabetic retinopathy.
There are two effective methods in reducing vision loss from
this disease. One method involves treatment with laser photocoagulation,
a way of sealing off the leaking blood vessels and causing
abnormal blood vessels to regress. Another
procedure is conventional eye surgery, a vitrectomy,
to remove blood that has leaked into the vitreous humor,
replacing it with a saline solution.
The
best treatment for diabetic retinopathy is prevention. Early
detection and management is important to prevent the development
of the more sight damaging stages of the disease. Keeping blood
sugar at an even level and frequent eye examinations will help.
With careful monitoring, treatment of diabetic retinopathy can
be started long before sight is affected.
