Discover how our treatment options preserve your vision to maintain your quality of life
If you’ve been diagnosed with diabetes, you’re at risk of developing diabetic retinopathy, and you should take action immediately to prevent it.
Treating diabetic retinopathy early can yield fantastic results. As many as 95% of patients avoid substantial vision loss if they are treated in time. That’s why it’s so important to have regular eye exams to check for diabetic retinopathy.
Treatment options include:
Medication
Anti-vascular endothelial growth factors or Anti-VEGF’s such as Avastin and Eylea are medications that help to prevent vision loss and in some circumstances restore some vision loss due to diabetic retinopathy.
Laser treatment
Patients who have reached the proliferative retinopathy stage – where abnormal blood vessels grow on the retina – can be treated with a procedure called laser photocoagulation. Here we use a laser to seal off leaking blood vessels and prevent further growth of blood vessels, leading to loss of vision.
Vitrectomy
If you have blurred vision because of a vitreous haemorrhage – where blood leaks into the ‘gel’ that fills the eye – you may also need a vitrectomy. Vitrectomy is also used for retinal detachment caused by diabetes.
Cataract and glaucoma treatment
Sometimes diabetic retinopathy can also cause cataracts and glaucoma, in which case you may need a cataract operation or glaucoma treatment as well.
Advantages
- Treatment can help to preserve vision or, in some cases, improve the vision.
- Treatment will help to stop the eyes from getting worse.
Risks include:
- Inflammation
- Infection
- Worsening of vision
Treatment options include:
- Anti-VEGF injections
- Laser treatment
- Vitrectomy
Treatments help to prevent vision loss and, in some circumstances, restore some vision loss.
Eye treatment options can be confusing. We’ve made the journey as straightforward as can be
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Our industry-leading experts are here to guide you every step of the way
Dr Mantell is a specialist in refractive and cataract surgery. He has restored the vision of thousands of people in his 17-year career.
Dr Ring is an expert in cornea, cataract and refractive surgery.
Dr Subbiah is a cataract, corneal and laser surgery specialist.
Dr Watson specialises in treating many aspects of the eye, including the face, eyelids, tear drainage system and the cornea.
Professor Danesh-Meyer is an international authority on glaucoma and neuro-ophthalmology and one of the most highly regarded experts in her field.
Professor Charles McGhee, a Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon for 25 years, specialises in corneal diseases and cataract surgery.
Dr Cunningham is a consultant ophthalmologist who specialises in cataract surgery and vitreoretinal surgery.
Dr Dean is a consultant ophthalmologist. His areas of expertise include cataract surgery, corneal surgery and pterygium surgery.
Dr Hadden specialises in vitreoretinal and cataract surgery, including the treatment of intraocular tumours.
Dr Narme Deva is a key opinion leader for Medical retina and Uveitis in New Zealand.
Dr Elizabeth Insull is a New Zealand and UK trained Oculoplastic and Ophthalmic surgeon.
Dr Matheos is an ophthalmologist with subspecialist training in glaucoma and anterior segment surgery, cataract surgery and pterygium surgery.
Dr Beaumont is a general ophthalmologist. He specialises in surgical ophthalmology, medical ophthalmology and urgent eye trauma care.
Dr Meyer is a specialist eye surgeon specialising in cataracts, glaucoma, and corneal diseases and surgeries.
Dr Reeves has advanced training in the diagnosis and management of glaucoma. He offers a variety of laser and surgical treatments, including minimally invasive glaucoma surgery.
Dr Perumal is a New Zealand trained ophthalmologist with advanced training in glaucoma and cataract surgery.
Dr Narme Deva is a key opinion leader for Medical retina and Uveitis in New Zealand.
LEARN MORE
Dr Ring is an expert in cornea, cataract and refractive surgery.
LEARN MORE
Dr Subbiah is a cataract, corneal and laser surgery specialist.
LEARN MORE
Dr Watson specialises in treating many aspects of the eye, including the face, eyelids, tear drainage system and the cornea.
LEARN MORE
Professor Danesh-Meyer is an international authority on glaucoma and neuro-ophthalmology and one of the most highly regarded experts in her field.
LEARN MORE
Professor Charles McGhee, a Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon for 25 years, specialises in corneal diseases and cataract surgery.
LEARN MORE
Dr Cunningham is a consultant ophthalmologist who specialises in cataract surgery and vitreoretinal surgery.
LEARN MORE
Dr Dean is a consultant ophthalmologist. His areas of expertise include cataract surgery, corneal surgery and pterygium surgery.
LEARN MORE
Dr Hadden specialises in vitreoretinal and cataract surgery, including the treatment of intraocular tumours.
LEARN MORE
Dr Elizabeth Insull is a New Zealand and UK trained Oculoplastic and Ophthalmic surgeon.
LEARN MORE
Dr Matheos is an ophthalmologist with subspecialist training in glaucoma and anterior segment surgery, cataract surgery and pterygium surgery.
LEARN MORE
Dr Beaumont is a general ophthalmologist. He specialises in surgical ophthalmology, medical ophthalmology and urgent eye trauma care
LEARN MORE
Dr. Meyer is a specialist eye surgeon specialising in cataracts, glaucoma, and corneal diseases and surgeries.
LEARN MORE
Dr Reeves has advanced training in the diagnosis and management of glaucoma. He offers a variety of laser and surgical treatments, including minimally invasive glaucoma surgery.
LEARN MORE
Dr Perumal is a New Zealand trained ophthalmologist with advanced training in glaucoma and cataract surgery.
LEARN MORE
Dr Mantell is a specialist in refractive and cataract surgery. He has restored the vision of thousands of people in his 17-year career.
LEARN MORE
Learn more about treating retinal eye conditions from authoritative sources.
Diabetic retinopathy usually only requires specific treatment when it reaches an advanced stage and there’s a risk to your vision.
It’s typically offered if diabetic eye screening detects stage three (proliferative) retinopathy, or if you have symptoms caused by diabetic maculopathy.
Retinopathy can lead to blindness but the good news is that it can be treated, especially if retinopathy progression is caught at an early stage.
It is likely that if you have had diabetes for a number of years, you may be at an early stage of having retinopathy.
Early Symptoms: None
Later Symptoms: Blurry vision, floating spots in your vision, blindness
Diagnosis: Dilated eye exam
Treatment: Injections, laser treatment, surgery
Treatment for diabetic retinopathy should involve both a medical doctor and an ophthalmologist. Your medical doctor can help you better control blood sugar and can treat other complications of diabetes that may worsen diabetic retinopathy, such as impaired kidney or heart function. Your ophthalmologist can directly treat retinopathy with a laser or a surgical procedure called vitrectomy, to prevent further vascular changes and preserve vision.
People with diabetes can have an eye disease called diabetic retinopathy. This is when high blood sugar levels cause damage to blood vessels in the retina. These blood vessels can swell and leak. Or they can close, stopping blood from passing through. Sometimes abnormal new blood vessels grow on the retina. All of these changes can steal your vision.
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