Before covering the Diabetic Retinopathy Treatment, let us start overseeing the condition. Diabetic Retinopathy is a disease of the retina. Many people who have diabetes will eventually get Diabetic Retinopathy. The retina is the layer of the eye that is directly in the back of the eye. The retina sends the images that are seen to the brain.
Diabetic Retinopathy can cause vision failure and lead to blindness. It usually gets worse over time. It affects the blood vessels in the eye causing them to weaken, which can lead to blood and liquids leaking into the retina. This is the common type of Diabetic Retinopathy.
Causes of Diabetic Retinopathy
Diabetes can result in damage of the small blood vessels throughout the body. This reduces the flow of blood. If the lessened blood flow affects the tiny blood vessels in the eye, the result is Diabetic Retinopathy. Tiny blood vessels weaken and the blood vessels may burst. New blood vessels then grow on the surface of the retina, and these fragile vessels may also break and bleed into the eye, resulting in cloudy vision and the development of scar tissue.
Symptoms of Diabetic Retinopathy
It is possible to have Diabetic Retinopathy for a long time without being aware of it. The condition does not have symptoms that are easily noticed until significant damage has already been done to the eye, so that the patient is in need for a Diabetic Retinopathy Treatment.
Typical symptoms include:
- Blurred or distorted vision
- Difficulty reading
- Floaters in the eye affecting vision
- Partial or total loss of vision or shadow over field of vision
- Pain occurring in the eye
As the Diabetic Retinopathy Symptoms gets worse and more fluid and proteins leak it will cause the retina to swell. This causes mild to severe vision loss. If the swelling affects the macula the vision loss can be severe.
The condition worsens as years go by, and the patient won’t look for Diabetic Retinopathy Treatment. When scar tissue develops that can lead to retinal detachment. There can also be bleeding inside the eye. Growth of new blood vessels on the surface of the iris may lead to severe glaucoma, a condition called neovascular glaucoma.
Conventional Diabetic Retinopathy Treatment
While there is no known cure for the condition, traditional medical treatments usually involves invasive surgery. Laser treatment (photocoagulation) is usually recommended for vision loss if the retina has not been damaged. Surgical removal of the vitreous gel can also help improve vision if there is no real damage to the retina. As with any surgical procedures, there is the chance for problems to develop.
Natural Diabetic Retinopathy Treatment
There are preventive steps that can be taken to reduce the severity of this condition, especially for someone already diagnosed with diabetes.
Controlling blood sugar levels and keeping the levels in the target range will reduce not only the development but the progression of retinopathy. This is accomplished by eating a healthy, balanced diet, getting regular exercise, and continually monitoring blood sugar levels. Taking insulin and medications as prescribed is important to maintaining blood sugar levels.
Along with blood sugar levels, controlling blood pressure is important, as long-term studies have shown that retinopathy in people with high blood pressure is likely to progress to macula edema. While there are no clear studies that show how treating high blood pressure levels can reduce the risk of vision problems, it is known that controlling the blood pressure will reduce the risk of other diabetes-related complications.
Having annual eye examinations by an ophthalmologist is important to screen for Diabetic Retinopathy and other problems. While it will not result in preventing the condition, it will help with avoiding vision loss through early detection and treatment.
Smoking has been shown to aggravate other health problems in people with diabetes, including diseases of the small blood vessels, so stopping smoking is suggested, as well as avoiding second-hand smoke.
There are certain herbs that will strengthen blood vessels and prevent the deterioration and leakage of blood into the eye.
- Bilberry is rich in vitamins A and C which protect and strengthen the eye.
- Ginkgo Biloba increases the diameter of blood vessels and allows the flow of more blood to nourish the retina.
- Quercitin is a flavonoid that helps prevent blood clots by reducing histamine formation. It also slows the formation of insulin growth factors, as well as reducing high blood pressure resulting in the reduction of stress on the walls of blood vessels.
- Grape seed extract is effective in preventing blood leakage from damaged vessels.
Other herbs include parsley, which contains strong anti-oxidants, vitamin C, and lutein. This helps protect the macula from oxidation damage. Shark Cartilege stops the progression of the condition, as it slows down the growth of the tiny blood vessels that could potentially affect the eye sight.
Prevention can be the best Diabetic Retinopathy Treatment. Leading a healthly lifestyle, reducing stress, managing diabetic blood levels and controling high blood pressure are key to controlling the severity of the degeneration on retinopathy.
Diabetic Retinopathy Cure
At Three Treasures Clinic we treat the whole being with dietary supplementation and we treat particularly the eyes of the Diabetic Retinopathy patient with Micro Acupuncture.