Diabetes related retinopathy is an eye condition that weakens the blood vessels in our retina. Without treatment, diabetes-related retinopathy may lead to vision loss, low vision or blindness.
Anyone who has diabetes can get diabetes-related retinopathy, including people who have:
- Gestational diabetes.
- Type 1 diabetes.
- Type 2 diabetes.
There are two types of diabetes related retinopathy:
- Non proliferative diabetes related retinopathy (NPDR): In this early disease stage, patients have blood vessels which leak in the retina. This manifests with either fluid, hemorrhage, or lipid seen in the retina. Eventually these blood vessels close causing ischemia or poor blood flow.
- Proliferative diabetes related retinopathy (PDR): When the disease progresses, abnormal blood vessels grow in response to the ischemia. These abnormal vessels can leak blood into the gel-like substance (vitreous) that fills patient’s eye and cause tractional changes to the surface of the retina detaching it and resulting in severe vision loss in late stages.
What is the retina?
The retina is a tissue in the back of the eye that sends signal to our brain akin to the film in a camera. The retina converts light rays into electrical impulses that communicate with our brain. These impulses are what enable us to see (vision).
Risk factors
If you have diabetes, risk factors for diabetes related retinopathy can include:
- Pregnancy.
- Hypertension.
- Uncontrolled blood sugar.
- Hyperlipidemia.
- The duration of diabetes-related retinopathy.
Symptoms and Causes
Diabetes can cause multiple eye diseases including cataracts, glaucoma, and diabetes-related retinopathy which is defined as damage to the retinal vessels of the eye. These damage vessels can lead to poor blood flow (ischemia), inflammation, and ultimately legal blindness if not treated.
Symptoms
In the early stages, most people experience no signs of diabetes related retinopathy. Patient may not experience vision changes until the condition is severe. For some people, symptoms come and go.
Symptoms of diabetes-related retinopathy include:
- Blurred or distorted vision.
- New color blindness or seeing colors as faded.
- Poor night vision (night blindness).
- Small dark spots (eye floaters) or streaks in your vision.
- Trouble reading or seeing faraway objects.
Diagnosis and Tests 
An ophthalmologist can diagnose diabetes-related retinopathy during a simple exam.
- Visual acuity: Acuity refers to how clearly patent can see.
- Intraocular pressure to make sure there are no signs of glaucoma.
- Eye muscle function: Muscle function refers to how well patient can move his/her eyes.
- Peripheral vision: Peripheral vision is seeing from the sides of his/her eyes.
- Pupil response: This assessment looks at how patient’s pupils react to light.
Then, put Atropine or Mydrilate or Homatropine or Mydriacyl or Phenylephrine drops into patient’s eyes. The drops dilate the pupils.
During this exam, a doctor should look for:
- Abnormal blood vessels.
- Bleeding in the center of your eye.
- Growth of new blood vessels.
- Retina swelling.
Allopathic treatment diabetes related retinopathy
An allopath will consider several factors when creating a treatment plan, including:
- Age.
- Medical history.
- Extent of retinal damage.
- Visual acuity.
- HgbA1c.
In the early stages of the disease, an allopathic doctor may use a wait-and-see approach, during this phase, patient will have regular eye exams but don’t need further treatment.
Other allopathic treatment options include:
- Injections: An allopathic doctor injects medication, such as anti-vascular endothelial growth factor drugs or corticosteroids, into the eye. These medicines help slow down disease progression.
- Laser surgery: Laser surgery is considered to be reduce swelling in retina and new blood vessel growth (The lasers shrink blood vessels or stop leaking), but there are lot of side effects and this technology need more research.
- Vitrectomy: An allopathic doctor advises this surgery if patient have cloudy vision due to leaking blood vessels. During a vitrectomy, the doctor makes a small incision in the eye, repair the blood vessels and remove scar tissue.
Homeopathic treatment for diabetes related retinopathy
Homoeopathy is a rapidly growing system throughout the world, there are many effective medicines available in Homoeopathy, the selection depends upon the individuality of the patient, considering mental and physical symptoms.
Zincum Metallicum
Pain and pressure on eyes. Photophobia. Burning, inflammation and biting in eyes. Itching, smarting, and feeling of excoriation in eyes, eyelids, and internal canthi. Pterygium. Dryness of eyes. Agglutination. Intense burning in eyes after surgeries. Diabetic related retinopathy. Falling down and paralysis of upper eyelids. Pupils contracted. Luminous flakes before eyes when looking into the air or at the sky, like showers of gold descending. When looking up, a dark, diagonal line before eye, directed upwards. Diplopia, strabismus. Amaurosis during severe headache.
Abroma Agustafolia 
Diabetes Mellitus. Extreme weakness due to Diabetes Mellitus. Diabetic related retinopathy. Increased thirst with dryness of mouth. polyuria. Insomnia. Boils and carbuncles in a diabetic patient. Burning sensation in the whole body or in different organs/parts. Desire to drink after urination which relieves thirst. Increased appetite, unnatural appetite can eat short after a good meal. Irritable nature, forgetful and morose. Dysmenorrhea, colicky pain, menses are irregular, blood is dark and clotted. Leucorrhea. respiratory tract infections.
Phosphorus
Eyeballs feel large, stiff, choroiditis. Fatigue of eyes and head even without much use of eyes. Edema of lids and about eyes. Pearly white conjunctiva and long curved lashes. Glaucoma. Cataract. Diabetic related retinopathy. Vitreous opacities. Atrophy of optic nerve. Double vision due to deviation of the visual axis. Partial loss of vision. Narrow field of vision. Sensation as if everything were covered with a mist or veil or something pulled tightly over eyes. Green halo about candlelight. Black points seem to float before the eyes. Letters appear red. Thrombosis of retinal vessels and degenerative changes in retina. Retinal troubles with the lights and hallucination of vision.
Acid Phosphoricum
Blue rings around. Lids inflamed and cold. Pupils dilated. Glassy appearance. Averse to sunlight; sees colors as if a rainbow. Feel too large. Amblyopia in masturbators. Optic nerves seem torpid. Pain as if eyeballs were forcibly pressed together and into head. Diabetic related retinopathy. Nervous exhaustion. Mental debility. Rachitis and periosteal inflammation.
Arnica Montana
Bloodshot. Double vision from trauma and retinal hemorrhage. Bruised, sore feeling in the yes after close work. Feel tired and heavy after sightseeing, moving pictures. Must keep eyes open. Dizzy on closing them. Photophobia. Diabetic related retinopathy. High objects lean forward and about to fall. Eye protrudes, looks larger than another eye.
Belladona
Throbbing deep in eyes on lying down. Diabetic related retinopathy. Pupils dilated. Eyes feel swollen and protruding, staring, brilliant; conjunctiva red; dry, burn; photophobia; shooting in eyes. Exophthalmos. Ocular illusions; fiery appearance. Diplopia, squinting, spasms of lids. Sensation as if eyes were half closed. Eyelids swollen. Fundus congested.
Lachesis Mutus
Defective vision after diphtheria, extrinsic muscles too weak to maintain focus. Sensation as if eyes were drawn together. Defective vision after diphtheria, extrinsic muscles too weak to maintain focus. Sensation as if eyes were drawn together by cords which were tied in a knot at root of nose. Blindness with lung or heart disorders. Eyes watery from pain. Intra-ocular hemorrhages. Diabetes related retinopathy. Feels as if eyes were forced out on pressing the throat. Dim sight. Unsteady look, eyes roll vacantly.
Bothrops lanceolatus
Diabetes related retinopathy. Amaurosis; blindness from hemorrhage into retina. Hemeralopia, day blindness, can hardly see her way after sunrise, conjunctival hemorrhage.
Physostigma Venenosum
Night-blindness, photophobia; contraction of pupils; twitching of ocular muscles. Lagophthalmos. Muscae volitantes; flashes of light; partial blindness. Diabetes related retinopathy. Glaucoma; paresis of accommodation; astigmatism. Profuse lachrymation. Spasm of ciliary muscles, with irritability after using eyes. Increasing myopia. Post-diphtheritic paralysis of eye and accommodation muscles. Bloodshot eyes with burning. Astigmatism. Glaucoma. Contraction of pupils. Profuse lachrymation. Spasm of ciliary muscles with irritability after using the eyes. Pain over orbits. Increasing myopia. Eyelids tense – cannot close or open them. Photophobia. Night blindness. Vision trembling. Muscae volitantes, flashes of light.
P. S: This article is only for doctors having good knowledge about Homeopathy and allopathy, for learning purpose(s).
For proper consultation and treatment, please visit our clinic.
None of above-mentioned medicine(s) is/are the full/complete treatment, but just hints for treatment; every patient has his/her own constitutional medicine.
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Dr. Sayyad Qaisar Ahmed (MD {Ukraine}, DHMS), Abdominal Surgeries, Oncological surgeries, Gastroenterologist, Specialist Homeopathic Medicines.
Senior research officer at Dnepropetrovsk state medical academy Ukraine.
Location: Al-Haytham clinic, Umer Farooq Chowk Risalpur Sadder (0923631023, 03119884588), K.P.K, Pakistan.
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