Diabetes affects the blood vessels throughout the body, particularly in the kidney and in the eye. Diabetic retinopathy is the name we give to diabetes’ adverse affects on the blood vessels in the eye. In the United States, diabetic retinopathy is the leading cause of blindness among adults. Risk of developing diabetic retinopathy increases over time. An adult who has had diabetes for 15 years or longer stands an 80 percent chance of experiencing damage to retinal blood vessels.
The retina, the multiple layers of tissue located at the back of the eye, detects visual stimuli and transmits signals to the brain. When diabetes affects the ocular blood vessels, they may develop leaks or contribute to the formation of scar tissue; these problems reduce the retina’s ability to detect and transmit images.
There are two main types of diabetic retinopathy: background (BDR) and proliferative (PDR). Treatment is available for both of these problems.
Laser Treatment of Diabetic Retinopathy
When diabetes results in new blood vessels in the retina that leak blood, a laser procedure may be used to painlessly destroy the new growth and seal the blood vessels.
Ugonjwa wa kisukari huathiri mishipa ya damu katika mwili wote, hasa katika figo na jicho. Retinopathy ya kisukari ni jina tunatoa kwa ugonjwa wa kisukari <unk> athari mbaya juu ya mishipa ya damu katika jicho. Huko Marekani, ugonjwa wa kibofu cha macho unaosababishwa na kisukari ndio kisababishi kikuu cha upofu miongoni mwa watu wazima. Hatari ya kupatwa na ugonjwa wa retinopathy ya kisukari huongezeka kadiri wakati unavyopita. Kwa mtu mzima ambaye amekuwa na ugonjwa wa kisukari kwa miaka 15 au zaidi, kuna uwezekano wa asilimia 80 wa kuumia mishipa ya damu ya retina. Retina, ambayo ni safu nyingi za tishu zilizo nyuma ya jicho, hupata visababishi vya kuona na kupeleka ishara kwenye ubongo. Wakati ugonjwa wa kisukari huathiri mishipa ya damu ya jicho, inaweza kusababisha uvujaji au kuchangia kuundwa kwa tishu ya kidonda; matatizo haya hupunguza uwezo wa retina kugundua na kupitisha picha. Kuna aina mbili za retinopathy ya kisukari: background (BDR) na proliferative (PDR). Matibabu yanapatikana kwa matatizo hayo mawili. Kwa mfano, kama ugonjwa wa kisukari unatokeza mishipa mipya ya damu katika retina ambayo huvuja damu, utaratibu wa laser unaweza kutumiwa kuharibu ukuaji mpya bila maumivu na kufunga mishipa ya damu.