Diabetic Retinopathy

A diabetes-related eye condition where high blood sugar damages the retina's blood vessels and can threaten vision.

Common symptoms

Blurred vision, fluctuating vision, dark spots or floaters, reduced night vision, and sometimes no symptoms in early stages.

Description

Diabetic retinopathy affects the retina, the light-sensitive layer at the back of the eye. Over time, high blood glucose can damage small retinal blood vessels, causing leakage, bleeding, or abnormal new vessel growth.

One challenge is that early diabetic retinopathy may not cause noticeable symptoms, which is why regular diabetic eye screening is so important.

Management focuses on good diabetes control (blood glucose, blood pressure, and cholesterol) and timely eye treatment when needed. Depending on severity, treatment may include retinal laser, eye injections, or surgery.