dot and blot hemorrhages diabetic retinopathy

During this stage, some of the small blood vessels in the retina may actually become blocked. Moderate Nonproliferative Retinopathy is the second and slightly more severe stage of diabetic retinopathy. If you have Mild Nonproliferative Retinopathy, your doctor will make specific recommendations about how often you will need to be examined and whether additional diagnostic testing such as retinal photographs, optical coherence tomography (OCT) or fluorescein angiography might be necessary.

Mild Nonproliferative Retinopathy can be present without any change in your vision and usually does not require treatment unless it progresses or is accompanied by Diabetic Macular Edema.

Microaneurysms are areas of balloon-like swelling of the tiny retinal blood caused by the weakening of their structure. The earliest stage of diabetic retinopathy is called Mild Nonproliferative Retinopathy and is characterized by the presence of “dot” and “blot” hemorrhages and “microaneurysms” in the retina. With early diagnosis and treatment, progression of diabetic eye disease and its associated vision loss can at a minimum be slowed, and in many cases vision loss from diabetic retinopathy can be prevented.ĭiabetic Retinopathy occurs and progresses in stages. It is also important for patients with diabetes to help reduce their risk of developing diabetic eye disease by not smoking, lowering their cholesterol and lipid profile, and controlling blood pressure, as well as working to eat a heart-healthy diet rich in fish, fruit and green leafy vegetables, and exercising. It is well documented that tight blood sugar control delays the onset and slows the progression of diabetic retinopathy. Recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows that diabetes affects approximately 26 million people in the United States with almost 8 million people ages 40 and older suffering from diabetic retinopathy and that diabetes is now the leading cause of new blindness in adults 20-74 years of age.ĭiabetic retinopathy is a complication of diabetes characterized by a weakening of blood vessels in the retina so that they leak, causing the retina to swell, bleed, and become deprived of oxygen and nutrients, ultimately leading to vision loss. While there is no cure for diabetic retinopathy, annual dilated eye exams for patients with diabetes are essential for early detection, diagnosis and treatment of diabetic retinopathy. Monday through Friday: 8:00 am to 5:00 pmįor holiday hours, please call 80 for specific information.īy working together with patients and their primary care physicians, the eye doctors at D'Ambrosio Eye Care can help to slow or even prevent vision loss from diabetic eye problems and diabetic retinopathy.

For holiday hours, please call 80 for specific information. * Hours vary, please call 80 or inquire at our Front Desks. You can contact D'Ambrosio Eye Care in Gardner at 97. You can contact D'Ambrosio Eye Care in Athol at 97. Wednesday: 8:00am to 5:00pm, but may vary* You can contact D'Ambrosio Eye Care in Acton at 97. Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday: 8:00am to 5:00pm You can contact D'Ambrosio Eye Care in Leominster at 97. Monday, Wednesday, Friday: 8:00am to 5:00pm, but may vary* You can contact D'Ambrosio Eye Care in Lancaster at 80.

Dot and blot hemorrhages diabetic retinopathy