How can your doctor diagnose diabetic retinopathy?
At first, your doctor will hear your history to know your vision difficulties and how you control your diabetes. He also will ask you if you have other health problems that may affect your sight, like hypertension.
Then, your doctor will do a comprehensive eye exam, as follows:
Dilated eye exam
Your doctor will place eye drops to dilate your pupil to allow him to see inside your eyes. Then, he will use a specific magnifying lens (ophthalmoscope) to look closely at the retina and detect any abnormalities. These eye drops may cause blurred near vision till they wear off (some hours later).
Visual acuity test
By the eye chart, your doctor will evaluate your central vision.
Tonometry
It’s the standard test to measure intraocular pressure (IOP).
Your doctor may need additional tests to assess the severity of your condition, such as:
Fluorescein angiography:
After dilating your eyes with specific drops, your doctor will inject fluorescein dye into your arm vein. This dye circulates with your bloodstream and reaches the retinal blood vessels. Via a special camera, your doctor can take images of your retina and detect the leaking, damaged, and blocked retinal vessels. This information helps your doctor assess the condition and represents guidance for the treatment.
OCT (optical coherence tomography):
This technique uses light waves to make a detailed cross-sectional image for the retina without dyes. These images reveal the retinal thickness, which helps your doctor determine swellings and how much fluid has leaked. OCT exam also detects any optic nerve damage. Your doctor may also use this exam to monitor the treatment’s effectiveness.
