Diabetic Retinopathy: Early Detection and Vision Protection by Bumrungrad International Hospital
Diabetic Retinopathy: Early Detection and Vision Protection by Bumrungrad International Hospital
Bumrungrad International Hospital, our corporate member, is proud to introduce present Diabetic Retinopathy: Early Detection and Vision Protection. Diabetic Retinopathy is a serious complication of diabetes that can lead to vision impairment or even blindness if left untreated. Caused by high blood sugar levels damaging the blood vessels in the retina, this condition can develop silently.
Causes?
When blood sugar levels remain high, blood vessels in the retina can weaken, swell, or leak fluid. In advanced stages, abnormal blood vessels may grow on the retina, leading to vision problems and potentially severe complications like retinal detachment or glaucoma.
Symptoms?
In its early stages, diabetic retinopathy often has no noticeable symptoms. As it progresses, you may experience:
- Blurred or fluctuating vision
- Dark spots or “floaters”
- Impaired colour vision
- Vision loss in both eyes
Since symptoms often don’t appear until the condition is advanced, regular eye exams are essential.
Who Is at Risk?
Anyone with diabetes—Type 1, Type 2, or gestational diabetes.
Risk increases with:
- Poor blood sugar control
- High blood pressure and cholesterol
- Pregnancy
- Long duration of diabetes
Prevention and Management
The best prevention strategies involve controlling blood sugar, blood pressure, and cholesterol. Regular eye exams can detect early signs of diabetic retinopathy, especially in those who have had diabetes for several years. Lifestyle adjustments and proper diabetes management are key to preventing its progression.
Treatment Options
Treatment depends on the severity of the condition:
- Laser Treatment: Used to seal leaking blood vessels or shrink abnormal ones.
- Injections: Anti-VEGF medications reduce swelling and slow disease progression.
- Surgery: In advanced cases, vitrectomy surgery may be necessary to remove scar tissue or blood from the retina.
About Bumrungrad International Hospital
Bumrungrad International Hospital in Asia is highly accredited. Being the first hospital in Asia to be accredited by the US-based Joint Commission International (JCI) and achieving accreditation five times since 2002. It has also obtained other notable certifications such as the DNV GL MIR Certification for Infection Risk and the Global Healthcare Accreditation with Excellence designation from GHA. Bumrungrad demonstrates high clinical success rates and low infection rates. The hospital’s laboratory is certified by the College of American Pathologists (CAP), the only one in Asia to achieve this level. Additionally, Bumrungrad is the only hospital in Thailand with an internationally-certified lab (ISO 15189) and the first hospital worldwide to achieve Certification of Conformance with GHA COVID-19 Guidelines for Medical Travel Programs. Newsweek ranked Bumrungrad as the best hospital in Thailand for two consecutive years and as one of the top 150 hospitals globally in their World’s Best Hospitals 2022 list.
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