NON-PROLIFERATIVE VS. PROLIFERATIVE DIABETIC

RETINOPATHY Retina Associates

Introduction At Retina Associates in Tucson, Arizona, Dr.

Cameron Javid and his colleagues focus solely on conditions related to the retina and vitreous humor. Retina Associates has welcomed numerous patients with diabetic retinopathy, a common complication of diabetes that occurs when frequent fluctuations in blood sugar damage the blood vessels in the rear of the eye. This area, known as the retina, is responsible for sensing light and converting that light to signals that the optic nerve can transport to the brain. In cases of diabetic retinopathy, leaking blood vessels or the growth of new blood vessels may interrupt this function.

Diabetic Retinopathy Most patients with diabetic retinopathy have the non-

proliferative form of the disorder, which features blood vessel swelling and leakage but no new vessel growth. Patients with the mild form may not experience symptoms, though continued leakage may cause the macula in the center of the retina to swell and interfere with the patient's visual acuity.

Vision disturbance is more common in the case of proliferative diabetic retinopathy, or PDR, which occurs when retinal blood vessels close. This prompts the growth of new blood vessels, which may include scar tissue that pulls at the retina. If such a process results in retinal detachment, the patient is at risk of severe or permanent vision loss.