Diabetes and Diabetic Retinopathy

Early Detection and Treatment

Diabetic retinopathy is a diabetes complication that affects the eyes.

Symptoms

Diabetic retinopathy often has no symptoms in its early stages. As it progresses, you may experience:

• Blurred vision
• Floaters
• Dark spots
• Loss of central vision
• Loss of side (peripheral) vision

Causes

Diabetic retinopathy is caused by damage to the blood vessels in the retina. These blood vessels can:

• Leak fluid and blood
• Become blocked
• Grow new, abnormal blood vessels

These changes can lead to swelling, bleeding, and scarring of the retina. They can also cause the retina to detach from the back of the eye.

Risk Factors

You are at risk for diabetic retinopathy if you have:

• Diabetes
• High blood pressure
• High cholesterol
• Obesity
• A family history of diabetic retinopathy

Complications

Diabetic retinopathy can lead to a number of serious complications, including:

• Loss of vision
• Glaucoma
• Cataracts
• Retinal detachment