Angiopathy of the retina. Features of it for diabetes and hypertension

With many diseases of the internal organs, pathological changes occur in the vessels. They are called angiopathies and represent a serious danger to health. One of the serious vascular lesions is angiopathy of the retina. It causes a significant impairment of vision and even blindness. Especially often it develops with diabetes and hypertension.

Also, retinal angiopathy can be a consequence of hypotension, collagenoses, eclampsia (severe pregnancy toxicity), chest injury, youthful angiopathy.

The cause of vascular changes is the violation of the nervous regulation of the vascular tone. With timely and adequate treatment, they can disappear. If treatment is not performed, angiopathy of the retina turns into angiosclerosis, and it is irreversible. When there is a violation of nervous regulation, there arises spasms of the arteries and widening of the veins. If there are organic changes of the vascular wall in the form of its densification, this means the onset of angiosclerosis. It is characterized by the appearance of special signs called symptoms of silver and copper wire or, according to the authors, Salus-Gunn.

If additionally on the fundus there are foci of lesions in the form of edema, inflammation or hemorrhage, this picture is called retinopathy.

Angioretinopathy is a combination of vascular changes and retinopathy. With the defeat of the optic nerve, speech will already go about neuroretinopathy.

Changes in the retina of the eye in diabetes

Changes in blood vessels associated with diabetes are associated with the deposition of mucopolysaccharides on their walls, thickening of the walls, a decrease in the lumen of the vessels. The ability of erythrocytes to adhere to the walls of blood vessels is also increased (this is called increased aggregation). Because of this, there is a violation of blood circulation and develops retinal hypoxia. Compensatory increases in the formation of new vessels, but they are inferior and easily burst. This can lead to detachment of the retina.

Changes in the fundus in diabetes are divided into three stages. Initially angiopathy of the retina of both eyes is manifested by the widening of the veins, the appearance of arterial microaneurysms, single hemorrhages. At the second stage, these changes increase, there is a tortuosity of veins, their clear expansion, swelling of the retina. There are numerous hemorrhages in the form of bands, tongues of flame, spots. In the third phase, glial tissue development is evident. Appear newly formed vessels. It becomes possible detachment of the retina.

Changes in the retina are more common in women. The likelihood of their occurrence is greater for type 1 diabetes. To prevent angiopathy and retinopathy in diabetes, you need to carefully monitor blood sugar, not allowing it to increase.

Changes in the retina of the eye in hypertension

Hypertension is characterized by clear changes in the fundus. An examination of it with this disease is necessary to clarify the stage of the disease, its prognosis, to control the correctness of the treatment.

Changes in the retina occur in several stages. At the first stage, which corresponds to the onset of hypertension, retinal angiopathy develops with the expansion of veins, the appearance of narrowing of the arteries. The angle of divergence of veins of 3 and 2 orders increases. There may be a slight hyperemia on the optic disc. With a persistent decrease in pressure, all these changes take place.

In the second stage, sclerotic changes in blood vessels develop. Thickens their wall, and the lumen decreases. They acquire a yellow-red, and then a white shade (the symptoms of copper and silver wire). At the same time, compaction of the artery compresses the vein at the site of their intersection, and Salus' symptoms appear. The third and fourth stage of the changes are the development of retinopathy and neuroretinopathy. If angiopathy of the retina at the beginning of the disease with hypertension completely disappears, then the subsequent stages of changes in blood vessels and the fundus are irreversible.

All this speaks about the importance of timely and correct treatment of the underlying disease. Do not forget about this, and good health to you!