Retinopathy Microvascular Health, Medicine, Nursing Essay (Essay Sample)

My Topic: Retinopathy Microvascular
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Introduction
Diabetic microvascular conditions manifest in the form of damage to body function and structural organs. While Diabetes Macrovascular affects the larger blood vessels, Diabetes Microvascular relates to the smaller blood vessels such as the capillaries and arterioles. The discussion focuses on Diabetic Retinopathy, which is an eye condition affecting the retina, the light- sensitive membrane covering the back of the eye. It is a leakage caused by abnormal growth of the blood vessels supplying blood to the retina, which progressively lowers vision and eventually leads to blindness. It is a major cause of blindness and visual disability in the industrialised world. For instance, in the United States reported new cases range between 12,000 and 24,000 annually. (Diabetes Forecast, October 2013). Further, with the growing increase in number of reported cases of diabetes, the indications are that the diabetic retinopathy cases are on the rise. It is therefore imperative that preventive care, wherever possible of pre-diabetic and diabetic cases should be on the priority risk of any healthcare venture. A multidisciplinary assessment and approach to matters such as screening of healthy individuals, regular check-up of diabetic patients, aggressive treatment and research should be a major component of the healthcare concern.
Case Analysis
Diabetes microvascular complications arise out of prolonged exposure to high blood sugar (hyperglycemia) which leads to damage of body tissue. Diabetic Retinopathy is damage to the retina arising from these diabetes mellitus’ complications. It first manifests as blurred vision, although there may be other accompanying visual symptoms. It usually occurs in patients who have suffered diabetes for over five years. Due to this condition, the small blood vessels in the retina are damaged leaking protein and blood into the back of the eye. Another complication is microaneurysms, tiny aneurysms following this condition that form in the eye, and new but brittle blood vessels that bleed and cause scarring to the retina, resulting in impaired vison (Web MD).