Comments on: Diabetic Retinopathy: Signs, Symptoms and Treatment Options

By: Tips To Prevent Vision Loss in Diabetes

Tips To Prevent Vision Loss in Diabetes — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 15:36:06 +0000

[...] Diabetes & Eye [...]

By: Randall V. Wong, M.D.

Randall V. Wong, M.D. — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 10:07:33 +0000

Dear Syasya,

Sorry for the delay. We were without power for several days and my online access was limited to going to the mall or other stores.

The diagnosis of diabetic retinopathy is made mainly by directly looking at the retina. There are a few characteristic changes in the retina that you can see;

1. retinal hemorrhage
2. microaneurysms
3. hard exudates
4. soft exudates
5. retinal edema
5. neovascularization

While each of these can be seen in other diseases, they are all most common with diabetic retinopathy.

Other than direct visualization, fluorescein angiography and OCT (optical coherence tomography) are the best at examining certain aspects of the retina. For example, a fluorescein angiogram is great at determining if blood flow to the retina is normal, can diagnose retinal swelling and prove if there is neovascularization of the retina. OCT is commonly used to assess any suspected retinal swelling in cases of diabetes. It is used to assess the retina in other non-diabetic entities.

I hope this was a good start for you.

Thanks for asking.

Randy

By: Syasya

Syasya — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 01:41:16 +0000

Hello Doctor,
I’m a student doing research on Diabetic Retinopathy. Actually I’m glad you did launch a blog on eye disease which i can take several information from your blog as one of my references.

Doctor,
Can i ask you a favor? can you explain more on test and diagnosis on Diabetic Retinopathy? i need an explanation in each test as for my subtopic-eye screening. that’s all doctor, thank you.

By: Randall V. Wong, M.D.

Randall V. Wong, M.D. — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 15:39:07 +0000

Frances,

I think you are in good shape. I am not aware of any special activities. If you had a vitreous hemorrhage, some doctors recommend keeping your head elevated, but I would suggest you check with your own doc just to make sure.

Thanks for your kind comments.
Best of luck!

Randy

By: frances mang

frances mang — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 15:31:45 +0000

when one has diabetic retinopathy & has been treated with 4 injections of avastin was improving but last check up the bleeding has again started has appt for fluorescein scan in 4 weeks. should he in the meantime avoid certain activities??? or is there anything one can do to help. I appreciate your website. thankyou

By: Randall V. Wong, M.D.

Randall V. Wong, M.D. — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 13:36:02 +0000

Sorry for the delay.

Please let me know if you have diabetes. “Bleeding” can be from so many causes; vascular occlusions, macular degeneration or diabetic retinopathy to name a rew.

Let me know how your appointment went today.

Randy

By: Betty

Betty — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 19:54:34 +0000

I tried to see my retinal specialist on 6/18. He could not fit me in. He referred me to another opthamologist in his practice (not a retinal specialist) He examined my eyes with dilation. He told me I had a lot of bleeding in both eyes especially the left. The next morning I woke up with no sight in my left eye. Everything is blurry like my eye is still dilated. My pupil *so I am told) looks normally dilated. I have an appointment to see my retinal specialist on 7/1.
Can you offer any helpful comments? Any help is greatly appreciated.

By: Problem oriented Medical Diagnosis; Knowing What to Look For

Problem oriented Medical Diagnosis; Knowing What to Look For — Sun, 02 May 2010 10:47:49 +0000

[...] Diabetes & Eye [...]

By: Macular Edema and Swelling

Macular Edema and Swelling — Sat, 17 Apr 2010 20:37:04 +0000

[...] Diabetes & Eye [...]

By: Randall V. Wong, M.D.

Randall V. Wong, M.D. — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 14:48:47 +0000

Both my offices are in Fairfax, Virginia..

Where in FL are you located?

Randy