How Should I Treat My Diabetic Retinopathy? Diabetic retinopathy is a very serious illness, and should not be taken lightly. There are several early warning signs of diabetic retinopathy. The initial symptoms are blurriness, dark spots in the patient’s vision, floaters, and colorblindness. The condi tion is caused by poorly regulated blood sugar and other diabetes complications. This all causes damage to the blood vessels at the back of the eye. The doctors at The Eye Center in Columbia, SC, are experts in diabetic retinopathy, and they can help determine if this illness is what a patient is suffering with. What are the Treatment Options? The first step in determining how to treat your diabetic retinopathy is to learn how bad the situation is. Of course, The Eye Center in Columbia will help with this step in the process. The earliest cases of diabetic retinopathy can be treated by closely monitoring your diabetes. However, if the case is more serious, there are several treatment options. Photocoagulation: this procedure uses lasers to burn the abnormal, leaking blood vessels, which in turn can reduce dark spots or floaters in the eye. Scatter laser treatment: this treatment shrinks the abnormal blood vessels, causing them to shrink and become scar tissue. Vitrectomy: in this procedure, the doctor creates a small incision in the eye and drains any fluids that are pooling and affecting your vision. Injecting medication into the eye: certain medications known as VEGF inhibitors to stop the growth of new blood vessels that may become abnormal. Which Option is Right for Me? At the end of the day, there is no cure for diabetic retinopathy. However, with treatment, you can have better, clearer vision. The only way to determine which operation you should have is to consult your doctor and consider the severity of the condition.