Can Diabetic Retinopathy Be Reversed? What Seniors Should Know

According to the National Council on Aging (NCOA), 94.9% of adults 60 and older have at least one health condition, and 78.7% have two or more. One of the most common chronic conditions for seniors is diabetes, which affects 27% of them.

Diabetes doesn’t just affect your blood sugar levels. It can have a ripple effect on the rest of your body, and it can even cause diabetic retinopathy.

Can diabetic retinopathy be reversed, though? Read on to find out more about this condition, if it can be reversed, and what you can do to manage this condition in Cramerton, NC.

What’s Diabetic Retinopathy?

Diabetic retinopathy is a complication that arises from diabetes. Specifically, it affects the eyes; high blood sugar levels cause damage to the blood vessels in the retina (hence the name). This makes it one of the diabetic eye conditions seniors have to watch out for.

The retina is a light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye, and over time, this condition can cause the blood vessels to swell, leak, or close off completely. As a result, this can impair vision or even lead to blindness.

Seniors are particularly vulnerable to diabetic retinopathy since they typically have a longer duration of diabetes. In addition, they may also have:

• Slower healing and regenerative capacity
• Comorbid conditions (like high blood pressure and kidney disease)
• Age-related vascular weakness

The Stages of Diabetic Retinopathy

As with many other health conditions, there are different stages to diabetic retinopathy. Here are the four main ones.

Mild Nonproliferative Retinopathy

First, you’ll experience mild nonproliferative retinopathy. There are small areas of swelling in retinal blood vessels (microaneurysms), and in most cases, there are no symptoms. The only way to detect this stage is via an eye exam.

Moderate Nonproliferative Retinopathy

In this stage, the blood vessels swell further, and they begin to block. As a result, this may start affecting retinal function, and you may experience mild vision changes.

Severe Nonproliferative Retinopathy

Many blood vessels are blocked in the third stage. This results in the retina becoming deprived of nutrients, as there’s little to no method of delivery. This means you’ll have a higher risk of progression to advanced stages.

Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy

The last stage is proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR). New and abnormal blood vessels grow, and this is called neovascularization of the eye. These vessels are fragile and prone to bleeding. This can cause:

• Retinal detachment
• Severe vision loss
• Blindness

Can Diabetic Retinopathy Be Reversed?

The good news is that diabetic retinopathy can be reversed; however, this is only possible in the early stages, and it’s only partially reversible. For example, if you improve your blood sugar and blood pressure levels during the mild to moderate nonproliferative stages, then it’s possible to halt progression. You may even slightly improve your retinal health.

You can also make lifestyle changes and take medications to stabilize the retina. However, fully reversing eye damage is rare.

In severe nonproliferative or proliferative retinopathy, typically, the retina damage is permanent, so it’s irreversible. You can do certain treatments to manage symptoms and prevent further vision loss (more on this later), but there’s very little you can do for vision restoration.

Managing Symptoms and Supporting Long-Term Eye Health

Aging and eye health are vital for any senior, but especially so for those with diabetic retinopathy. The main way to deal with this condition is to focus on slowing progression and preserving remaining vision.

You can achieve this by doing the following.

Tight Blood Sugar Control

If you have diabetes, then managing diabetic complications is a must. Your target A1C level should be around 7%.

If needed, you should use continuous glucose monitors (CGMs). Use these (and other tools if necessary) to avoid skips and dips in your glucose levels.

Blood Pressure and Cholesterol Management

Your blood pressure should be maintained at a level below 140/70 mm Hg. Also, keep up healthy cholesterol levels by having a good diet, exercise plan, or statins. These things can reduce stress on blood vessels (including in the retina).

Regular Eye Exams

Routine senior vision care is necessary for everyone, but especially for those who have retinopathy. With these annual dilated eye exams, early detection will allow for timely intervention. If you’re in senior living, then the staff members may be able to arrange this for you.

Anti-VEGF Injections

Anti-VEGF injections like ranibizumab (Lucentis) or aflibercept (Eylea) can do the following:

• Reduce abnormal blood vessel growth
• Control swelling (macular edema)
• Slow or stop vision loss

Laser Therapy

Doctors can use laser therapy (photocoagulation) to seal leaking blood vessels and prevent new abnormal ones from growing. What’s great is that this can often be done in outpatient settings. Do note that this can slow progression, but it will not restore lost vision.

Vitrectomy

Vitrectomy is a surgical process that removes the vitreous gel. This needs to be done when there’s severe bleeding or retinal detachment. The procedure can help restore partial vision in some severe cases.

Lifestyle Tips for Long-Term Eye Health in Seniors

There are some lifestyle changes you can make for good, long-term eye health.

First, eat healthy by prioritizing leafy greens, omega-3s, and low-glycemic foods. Try to avoid refined sugars and high-carb processed items. Also, exercise regularly, as this can regulate your blood sugar, lower blood pressure, and improve circulation.

If you smoke, then stop. This habit can worsen circulation and retinal damage.

And lastly, wear sunglasses to block UV rays and protect your eyes. When reading, use magnifiers or high-contrast settings.

Take Care of Your Eyes

So, can diabetic retinopathy be reversed? In the earlier stages, it can be, but only partially. If your retinopathy is more advanced, then the chances of reversal are slim, if not impossible.

The most essential thing is that you lead a healthy lifestyle to control your blood sugar and slow/stop progression. And if needed, getting treatments can help preserve your vision.

TerraBella Cramer Mountain was named one of the top assisted living communities in the 2020 Best of Gaston County. Contact us now if you’re interested in senior living in Cramerton, NC.