Diabetic Retinopathy

Diabetic Retinopathy is one of the most frequent causes of blindness in humans in the age group of 20 to 65 years. In Germany, more than 10,000 people suffer blindness as a consequence of their diabetes problem.

Small and the smallest cells in particular are damaged. High blood pressure, increased body weight or metabolic disorders enhance the negative cell effects.

Besides other organs, the eyes are affected the most, where it is natural for the smallest of blood vessels to pass through e.g., the retina. The progressive weakening of vision is a consequence of newly formed blood vessels that swell in the retina or the vitreous body.

These cause hemorrhages, and light penetration into the retina is disturbed. The consequence is considerable vision impairment.

Thus far there is only one effective therapy, namely the laser coagulation of the retina to destroy the newly formed vessels. It was only through this method that the rate of blindness could be brought down by nearly 90 % – a genuine perspective for diabetes patients.