The best way to slow the progression of diabetic retinopathy is to work with your primary care doctor to control your blood sugar levels. Improving the control of blood pressure and cholesterol levels has also been shown to help reduce certain types of diabetic retinopathy. Your retina M.D. will encourage you to follow the recommendations of your primary care doctor in these efforts. The retina physicians at Barnet Dulaney Perkins Eye Center work closely with doctors in family practice, internal medicine, endocrinology, and other fields in the community for the benefit of the "whole patient". Offering lectures and participating in meetings of combined medical disciplines in the community are common activities for our retina doctors because they know that careful care of systemic disease - including diabetes - is the best way to minimize the damage to the retina and vision.

If, however, your diabetic condition has developed to include macular edema, PDR, vitreous hemorrhage, or traction retinal detachments, laser and other surgical treatments will also be needed to prevent further vision loss. Anti-inflammatory medications (Avastin or steroids) may be given by injection to reduce macular edema and halt abnormal blood vessel growth. A variety of precise laser treatments can be done in the office both for macular edema and PDR.