Prevention of Diabetic Retinopathy
Prevention of Diabetic Retinopathy: Introduction
Prevention of eyes problems is best achieved by several approaches.
Maintaining good long-term control of blood sugars greatly reduces
the chance of having problems, and may also delay them.
Having regular eye checkups,
even when you sense nothing wrong,
is a good way to detect any retina problems early enough that treatment has good results.
The doctor can detect retinopathy
before you notice it, and an eye specialist can find it before your doctor.
Some medications and supplements such as
Vitamin E and blood pressure medications (e.g. ACE inhibitors)
have also been linked to reduced risk of diabetic eye problems in some studies.
Prevention of Diabetic Retinopathy:
Methods of prevention of Diabetic Retinopathy mentioned in various sources
includes those listed below.
This prevention information is gathered from various sources,
and may be inaccurate or incomplete.
None of these methods guarantee prevention of Diabetic Retinopathy.
- Diabetic control
- Quit smoking
- Control blood pressure
- Careful monitor blood pressure during pregnancy
- Exercise carefully (weights, headstands) - some types of exercise that increase blood pressure can actually aggravate the eyes and a retinopathy condition.
- Regular eye checkups
- Vitamin E - may have some preventive benefit
- ACE inhibitors - may have some preventive benefit
- Aldose reductase (AR) inhibitors (Epalrestat, Tolrestat, Sorbinol) - There is some evidence that AR inhibitors such as Epalrestat and Tolrestat may help prevent retinopathy or delay its progression. These drugs also may help with cataracts.
Prevention statistics for Diabetic Retinopathy:
The following are statistics from various sources
about the prevention of Diabetic Retinopathy:
- 30,000 adults with diabetic retinopathy could maintain their vision by having timely laser therapy in the US (Research to Prevent Blindness, NISE, NSF)
Medical news about treatments for Diabetic Retinopathy
These medical news articles may be relevant to Diabetic Retinopathy treatment:
Cure Research for Diabetic Retinopathy
The list of research areas and treatments under analysis mentioned
in various sources for Diabetic Retinopathy includes:
- Vitamin E - may have some preventive benefi
- Vitamin A
- Vitamin C
- ACE inhibitors - may have some preventive benefit
- Aldose reductase (AR) inhibitors (Epalrestat, Tolrestat, Sorbinol) - There is some evidence that AR inhibitors such as Epalrestat and Tolrestat may help prevent retinopathy or delay its progression. These drugs also may help with cataracts.
- More research treatments »
Clinical Trials for Diabetic Retinopathy
Some of the clinical trials for Diabetic Retinopathy include:
Latest Treatments for Diabetic Retinopathy
Some of the more recent treatments for Diabetic Retinopathy include:
Treatments for Diabetic Retinopathy
Treatments to consider for Diabetic Retinopathy may include:
Prevention of Diabetic Retinopathy:
Are You at Risk for Diabetic Eye Disease: NEI (Excerpt)
The Diabetes
Control and Complications Trial (DCCT) showed that better control of
blood sugar level slows the onset and progression of retinopathy and
lessens the need for laser surgery for severe retinopathy. (Source: excerpt from Are You at Risk for Diabetic Eye Disease: NEI)
Facts About Diabetic Retinopathy: NEI (Excerpt)
The NEI urges all
people with diabetes to have an eye examination through dilated
pupils at least once a year. If you have more serious retinopathy,
you may need to have a dilated eye examination more often.
A recent study, the Diabetes Control and Complications Trial
(DCCT), showed that better control of blood sugar levels slows the
onset and progression of retinopathy and lessens the need for laser
surgery for severe retinopathy.
The study found that the group that tried to keep their blood
sugar levels as close to normal as possible, had much less eye,
kidney, and nerve disease. This level of blood sugar control may not
be best for everyone, including some elderly patients, children
under 13, or people with heart disease. So ask your doctor if this
program is right for you. (Source: excerpt from Facts About Diabetic Retinopathy: NEI)
Diabetic Retinopathy Treatment: Book Excerpts
Prevention Claims: Diabetic Retinopathy
Information on prevention of Diabetic Retinopathy comes from many sources.
There are some sources that claim preventive benefits
for many different diseases for various products.
We may present such information
in the hope that it may be useful,
however, in some cases claims of Diabetic Retinopathy prevention may be
dubious, invalid, or not recognized in mainstream medicine.
Please discuss any treatment, discontinuation of treatment,
or change of treatment plans with your doctor
or professional medical specialist.
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