Is there an over-the-counter treatment for diabetic retinopathy?

Not for treatment...: But the best way to prevent diabetic retinopathy is with blood sugar and blood pressure control. Lifestyle (diet and exercise) play an important role and are available without a doctor's prescription, just like over-the-counter medicines. The treatments for diabetic retinopathy involve the injection of medicines into or next to the eye, in-office laser procedures, and sometimes surgery.

No: Diabetic retinopahty is an end-result of poor blood sugar control over years. The disease leads to leaking blood vessels and decreased oxygen in the retina. This in turn can cause the growth of new blood vessels that also leak, and can cause varying levels of vision loss. No over-the-counter remedy exists. Treatment includes blood sugar control and laser surgery if necessary.

Prevention: The best way to deal with diabetic eye disease is to prevent it. The only way to do that is to have very tight blood sugar control. And to prevent vision damage or loss, you must see an ophthalmologist every year. If we find problems in the early phase, laser will prevent damage!

Diabetic retinopathy: The best thing for anyone with diabetes to do to prevent retinopathy is to keep their blood sugars under tight control. Long term studies have shown that individuals who have had many years of normal blood sugars and normal a1c's have a very low incidence of diabetic retinopathy. Other than that, it is essential that all diabetics have a dilated eye examination at least on a yearly basis.

Dr Singh agreed