What is Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy?

Diabetic retinopathy is an eye condition caused by diabetes that impacts blood vessels in the retina and if not diagnosed and adequately treated can lead to varied levels of vision loss or blindness. 

Diabetes is the leading cause of blindness for working-aged adults in the US. A variety of diseases can develop as a result of diabetes, but diabetic retinopathy is among the most common and vision-threatening.

Damage from diabetes is related to high blood sugar. There is very good evidence that the better the control of blood sugar the less the risk of complications from diabetes, including in the eye. With elevated blood sugar levels, a patient’s retinal blood vessels do not function correctly, and eventually, blood leaks into retinal tissue, resulting in blurred, spotty vision.

Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy Progression

How does diabetic retinopathy begin, and how can it be recognized before it becomes a vision-threatening condition?

Mild Stage

Diabetic retinopathy is asymptomatic in its earliest stages and is only detectable through a retinal evaluation. This is the ideal time for better blood sugar control and continued preventative care.  

Moderate Stage

If diabetic retinopathy progresses, it will result in damage to blood vessels, leakage of blood and fluid into the retina, and associated vision loss. Frequent specialist visits may be recommended to manage and treat the condition.

Severe Stages

Proliferative diabetic retinopathy is the most severe stage of this eye disease. This stage of the disease is vision-threatening and occurs when your existing retinal blood vessels not only leak, but because of the resulting decrease in retinal circulation, new abnormal blood vessels form that significantly increase the chance of vision loss if not diagnosed and adequately treated.

Diagnosing Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy 

Diabetic retinopathy is a progressive disease that requires early detection and treatment. If an individual has diabetes, they should receive early screenings and preventative care to address the possibility of eye complications that come with diabetes, ideally before substantial vision loss occurs. But in the event that early screenings and collaboration with a specialist are not adequate, proliferative diabetic retinopathy may occur and need an eye evaluation for diagnosis. 

Diabetic Proliferative Retinopathy Treatment

Proliferative diabetic retinopathy cannot be fully reversed once it begins, but treatment options to manage the condition and minimize vision loss include:

• Tight blood sugar and cholesterol control
• Anti-VEGF therapy in proliferative diabetic retinopathy is used to stop new blood vessel growth and cause the new abnormal blood vessels to regress. This is an often effective but expensive therapy per dose, with multiple rounds of doses over months to years required for effective proliferative diabetic retinopathy treatment. This may also be used to treat diabetic macular edema that is usually present.
• Laser treatment to the retina to decrease the amount of circulation needed. This usually results in some loss of peripheral vision.
• Undergoing a vitrectomy, which is a surgery that removes vision-clouding scar tissue from the eye. 

Early Intervention and Care for Advanced Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy 

Proliferative diabetic retinopathy is a serious, potentially blinding disease with far-reaching implications for individuals living with the condition. Early intervention for diabetic retinopathy can make the difference between vision loss and long-lasting quality of life. IRIS provides a screening solution that can be integrated with your existing EMR system for accurate teleretinal imaging. IRIS offers screening solutions for rural and at-home healthcare providers, making early detection possible for a wide variety of patient populations. 

These advancements in access to early detection for diabetic retinopathy are fighting against the frequency of proliferative diabetic retinopathy and providing options for vision-saving detection and treatment. 

Reach out to IRIS today to find out more about how your practice can join in the fight against proliferative diabetic retinopathy. 

FAQs

What is proliferative diabetic retinopathy?

Proliferative diabetic retinopathy is the late-stage version of diabetic retinopathy, an eye disease related to diabetes. This stage of diabetic retinopathy often leads to permanent vision-loss or blindness. 

Can proliferative diabetic retinopathy be cured?

Proliferative diabetic retinopathy cannot be fully cured, but measures can be taken to minimize the vision loss from the disease once it begins. Treatment options include strict blood sugar and cholesterol regulation, ant-VEGF drugs, laser, and undergoing a vitrectomy.