Retinopathy is a condition that affects the retina, the layer of the eye that senses light. When the retina is damaged by a disease, such as diabetes or high blood pressure (hypertension), retinopathy occurs. This can cause changes in vision and sometimes irreversible vision loss. Retinopathy can also occur in premature or low birth weight newborns.

Treatment for retinopathy depends on the underlying cause. For diabetes, hypertension, and age-related retinopathy, treatment often begins with lifestyle modifications and medications, but may develop into surgery. If you have retinopathy, you may not notice it at first, so treatment may be delayed.

Home remedies and lifestyle

• If you’re at risk of diabetic retinopathy or high blood pressure, lifestyle modifications can improve symptoms and prognosis.
• A healthy diet and regular exercise can lower blood pressure, help control blood sugar, and lower cholesterol. These are all factors that can contribute to retinopathy. Treating these factors can help you avoid or control retinopathy as a complication of diabetes or high blood pressure
• Diet and exercise
  Although there was no specific diet recommended to prevent retinopathy, one study noted that some diets were associated with a lower risk of diabetic retinopathy. These included high-fiber diets, those that included oily fish, a Mediterranean diet, and a low-calorie diet.
• Exercise can help reduce inflammation overall. One study found that muscle-strengthening activities can reduce inflammation in the body, reducing the severity of retinopathy.

However, any activity that causes high blood pressure may need to be avoided to prevent further damage. Talk to your doctor before starting any exercise program.

Alcohol and smoking

• Smoking and drinking alcohol can affect your vision over time
• Quitting smoking and reducing or eliminating the amount of alcohol you drink can help manage retinopathy and prevent further complications.
• Follow treatment plans for other
  conditions Since diabetes and high blood pressure are the main causes of retinopathy, it is important to follow the treatment plan that your doctor puts in place if you have any of these conditions. This may include monitoring your blood sugar, taking blood pressure medications and performing routine eye exams.

Prescriptions

If you have been diagnosed with retinopathy, your doctor may prescribe one of the following medications. Although these drugs have been shown to be effective, they have side effects which your doctor will carefully weigh against the benefits.

Anti-VEGF drugs

Anti-vascular endothelial growth factor drugs are used to slow down changes in blood vessels in and around the retinopathy.

VEGF, or vascular endothelial growth factor, is a protein that helps blood vessels develop. This is an important protein in the body. However, when there is too much in the eye, it becomes harmful by forming new blood vessels in or near the retina causing vision problems.

Anti-VEGF drugs work by stopping the formation of VEGF protein in the eye. It is injected directly into the eye periodically over time

Common anti-vascular endothelial growth factor medications include: 6

• Lucentisse (Ranibizumab)
• McCogen (Pegaptanib)
• Elijah (Affilipricept)
• Avastin can also be used
• (bevacizumab) outside the label
• As an anti-VEGF drug

Dope

Steroids can be part of a retinopathy treatment plan. Corticosteroids are injected directly into the eye to reduce inflammation that may affect eyesight

FDA-approved steroids to treat retinopathy include:

Ozurdex (dexamethasone intravitreal implant)
Ilofen (intravitreal implant fluocinolone acetonide)
Surgeries and specialized procedures Laser therapy
was the most common treatment for retinopathy before the development of anti-VEGF drugs. 7 With technological advances, laser therapy is still used frequently, sometimes in combination with anti-VEGF drugs.

Laser therapy

Laser therapy was developed in 1969 and was successful in treating diabetic retinopathy.8 It works by shrinking blood vessels in the eye that cause vision problems.

Your doctor or ophthalmologist will numb the eye and direct a powerful beam of light into the eye. The patient’s vision may be blurry for the rest of the day, but the results are usually positive

Surgery

When retinopathy progresses, especially in the case of diabetic retinopathy, surgery may be required. It may occur in conjunction with medications and laser treatments.

The most common surgical procedure for retinopathy is vitrectomy

During vitrectomy, the doctor or ophthalmologist makes very small cuts in the eye to remove the vitreous fluid on top of the retina. They can then use lasers to repair the retina or replace the vitreous fluid with a clear liquid, such as silicone oil.

Over-the-counter(OTC) treatments

While more studies are needed, there is some evidence that supplementing with certain vitamins and minerals can improve retinopathy.

These include:

• Lutein
• Zeaxanthin
• vitamin C
• Vitamin D
• Vitamin E
• Zinc
• copper
• Alpha-lipoic acid
• N-Acetylcysteine
• Complexes B1, B2, B6
• L-methylfolate
• Methyl B12
• Be sure to consult your doctor before you start supplementing with any vitamins or minerals.

A word from Ibsar Specialized Center

Whether you have retinopathy or are at risk of retinopathy, it’s important to talk to your healthcare provider about treatment and prevention. Having a condition like retinopathy can seem scary, especially if your vision is getting worse, but talking to a healthcare professional or eye care professional about your treatment options can bring you a sense of relief.

If you live with any of the conditions that can cause retinopathy, making lifestyle changes and following your treatment plan for diabetes or high blood pressure can give you a sense of control over your health.