Main Cause Of Diabetic Retinopathy
The main cause of diabetic retinopathy is the condition of diabetes which can lead to the blockage of the minute blood vessels over time. The blockage of the tiny blood vessels which are responsible for the nourishment of retinal tissues leads to serious vision problems as an excess amount of blood sugar cuts off the blood supply to the retina completely.
as a result, the human eye tries its very best to grow new blood vessels but these new blood vessels do not develop properly and can easily leak blood all over the eye. Therefore, the abnormal new growth of blood vessels and the blockage of retinal blood vessels come together to cause diabetic retinopathy symptoms.
To effectively understand the causes of diabetic retinopathy, we need to know that there are two types of diabetic retinopathy:
Early diabetic retinopathy
Early diabetic retinopathy is a much more commonly occurring type of diabetic retinopathy which is also known as non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR). In the case of NPDR, there is no proliferation or growth of new blood vessels to attempt at a better vision by the retina.
When someone has NPDR, there is the weakening of the walls of the blood vessels surrounding the retina. There is the formation of tiny bulges in the walls of the blood vessels all over the retina which can leak sometimes thus letting the fluid and blood flow freely into the retina. Larger blood vessels in the retina can start dilating and become irregular in shape as well. Non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy can also progress from mild to severe as there is blockage of more blood vessels over time.
Sometimes, the damage to the retinal blood vessels might lead to the buildup of fluid i.e., edema in the central portion known as the macula of the retina. If there is a visible decrease in vision due to macular edema then the doctors suggest immediate treatment to avoid permanent vision loss.
Advanced Diabetic Retinopathy
Diabetic retinopathy can advance to a more severe type known as proliferative diabetic retinopathy. In advanced diabetic retinopathy, the damaged blood vessels close off leading to the growth of abnormal, new blood vessels in the retina. The new abnormal blood vessels are fragile and can seep out into the jellylike, clear substance that fills up the center of the eye known as the vitreous.
Eventually, the scar tissues arising from the growth of newer blood vessels can lead to the detaching of the retina from the back of the eye. If the newer blood vessels get in the way of the normal fluid flow out of the eye, there is a build-up of pressure in the eyeball. The pressure buildup in the eyeball can damage the nerves that carry images from the eye to the optic nerve in the brain which ultimately leads to glaucoma. Diabetic retinopathy might give rise to other serious conditions of the eye, such as: