Introduction
At The Retina Clinic London, located in the prestigious Harley Street Health District, we specialise in diagnosing and managing diabetic eye disease, including diabetic retinopathy and diabetic maculopathy. These common complications of diabetes can lead to significant vision loss if left untreated.
Our expert team, led by Professor Paulo Stanga, combines decades of experience with advanced diagnostic technologies to provide personalised care.
For diabetic patients wishing to monitor their eye health, we also offer a dedicated Diabetic Screening Service, helping detect issues early and guide timely interventions to protect vision.
What is Diabetic Eye Disease?
Diabetic eye disease refers to a group of conditions caused by diabetes that affect the retina, including:
- Diabetic Retinopathy: This occurs when high blood sugar levels damage the retinal blood vessels. It is classified into:
- Non-Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy (NPDR): The early stage, where blood vessels weaken, leak fluid, or bleed, leading to microaneurysms and swelling in the retina.
- Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy (PDR): The advanced stage, where abnormal new blood vessels grow on the retina. These fragile vessels can bleed (causing vitreous haemorrhage) or lead to retinal detachment.
- Diabetic Maculopathy: A form of retinopathy where fluid and swelling affect the macula—the central part of the retina responsible for detailed vision. This includes diabetic macular oedema (DMO), which can significantly impair vision.
If you’d like to learn more about macular oedema, visit our Cystoid Macular Oedema (CMO) page.
These conditions often progress silently, so regular screening is crucial to prevent irreversible damage.
Symptoms of Diabetic Retinopathy and Maculopathy
In its early stages, diabetic eye disease may not cause noticeable symptoms. As the condition progresses, you may experience:
- Blurry or fluctuating vision.
- Dark spots, floaters, or shadows in your vision.
- Distorted or wavy vision.
- Reduced sharpness or difficulty seeing fine details.
- Colours appearing less vibrant.
- Loss of vision, particularly in the centre of your visual field.
If you experience any of these symptoms, early evaluation and treatment can prevent further damage and preserve vision.
What Causes Diabetic Eye Disease?
Diabetic eye disease develops when high blood sugar levels damage the small blood vessels in the retina. Risk factors include:
- Poorly controlled blood sugar: The higher your blood sugar levels, the greater your risk.
- High blood pressure or cholesterol: These factors increase the likelihood of vascular damage in the retina.
- Duration of diabetes: The longer you’ve had diabetes, the higher your risk of developing complications.
- Smoking: Smoking exacerbates damage to retinal blood vessels.
- Pregnancy: Gestational diabetes or poorly controlled diabetes during pregnancy increases the risk of retinopathy.
At The Retina Clinic London, we collaborate with leading endocrinologists and GPs to help improve diabetes management, addressing systemic factors that contribute to eye complications.
How is Diabetic Eye Disease Diagnosed at The Retina Clinic London?
We use advanced imaging technologies specifically tailored to detect diabetic eye disease at its earliest stages, monitor progression, and personalise treatment plans.
Our Diagnostic Approach
1. High-Resolution Macula Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT)
- Provides detailed cross-sectional imaging of the retina and macula, allowing us to detect fluid build-up, retinal swelling, and other structural changes associated with diabetic macular oedema (DMO).
2. Ultrawidefield OCT
- Captures detailed images of the peripheral retina, enabling early detection of diabetic retinopathy beyond the macula.
3. Ultrawidefield Fluorescein Angiography (FFA)
- Highlights areas of leakage, blocked blood vessels, and abnormal new vessel growth, providing a detailed assessment of both NPDR and PDR.
4. Ultrawidefield Indocyanine Green Angiography (ICG)
- Evaluates deeper choroidal blood vessels, offering additional insights for complex cases.
5. Ultrawidefield OCT Angiography (OCTA)
- Non-invasively maps blood flow in the retina and choroid to identify vascular damage and abnormal blood vessel growth.
6. Artificial Intelligence (AI) Imaging Analysis
- We use AI tools to monitor fluid levels and assess how well treatments, such as anti-VEGF injections, are working.
7. Systemic Health Assessment
- We review your blood sugar control, blood pressure, and other systemic factors to create a holistic care plan tailored to your needs.
Treatment Options for Diabetic Eye Disease
At The Retina Clinic London, we offer a comprehensive range of treatments for diabetic retinopathy and maculopathy, personalised to each patient’s condition.
1. Anti-VEGF Injections
Medications such as Faricimab (Vabysmo), Aflibercept (Eylea), Ranibizumab (Lucentis), and Bevacizumab (Avastin) are injected directly into the eye to reduce abnormal blood vessel growth and fluid leakage. These injections are highly effective for managing diabetic macular oedema (DMO) and preventing vision loss in proliferative retinopathy.
2. Steroid Injections
Steroid treatments, such as the Dexamethasone Implant (Ozurdex), help reduce inflammation and swelling in the retina, particularly for patients with DMO who may not respond to anti-VEGF therapy.
3. Targeted Pan-Retinal Photocoagulation (PRP)
PRP laser therapy treats the peripheral retina to stop the progression of proliferative diabetic retinopathy. At our clinic, this treatment is guided by FFA imaging, ensuring a highly personalised approach that minimises unnecessary damage to healthy tissue and reduces the vision loss traditionally associated with laser therapy.
4. Surgery
For advanced cases of diabetic eye disease, we may recommend:
- Vitrectomy: Performed to address complications such as vitreous haemorrhage, severe retinal detachment, or persistent swelling that does not respond to other treatments.
Why Choose The Retina Clinic London?
At The Retina Clinic London, we provide exceptional care for patients with diabetic eye disease, combining world-class expertise with advanced technologies to deliver tailored treatment plans.
What Sets Us Apart
- World-Leading Expertise: Led by Professor Paulo Stanga, our team has decades of experience managing diabetic retinopathy and maculopathy, including the most complex cases.
- Advanced Diagnostics: We use cutting-edge imaging tools such as ultrawidefield OCT, OCTA, and FFA-guided imaging to provide a detailed and precise assessment of your condition.
- AI Integration: Our AI tools allow for accurate monitoring of fluid levels and disease progression, ensuring treatment plans are data-driven and effective.
- Diabetic Screening Service: We offer a dedicated screening service for early detection of diabetic eye disease and personalised recommendations for ongoing monitoring and treatment.
- Collaborative Care: We work closely with leading endocrinologists and GPs to improve systemic diabetes management, enhancing overall patient outcomes.
- Comprehensive Treatments: From advanced anti-VEGF injections to personalised laser therapies and surgical options, we provide cutting-edge care tailored to each patient.
- Convenient Location: Situated in the Harley Street Health District, our clinic offers prompt appointments and short waiting times.
Take Control of Your Vision
Diabetic eye disease can be effectively managed with early diagnosis and timely treatment. If you have diabetes or have been referred for diabetic eye care, contact The Retina Clinic London today to schedule an appointment.
For more information, call +44 (0)20 4548 5310 or email info@theretinacliniclondon.com.