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Diabetic Retinopathy

Diabetic retinopathy is a diabetes complication that affects the eyes. It's caused by damage to the blood vessels of the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye (retina). In some cases, these blood vessels may swell and leak fluid, while in others, abnormal new blood vessels grow on the surface of the retina. These changes can result in vision problems, from mild blurriness to complete blindness if left untreated.

There are two main stages of diabetic retinopathy:

Nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR): In this early stage, the walls of the blood vessels in the retina weaken, and small bulges called microaneurysms may protrude from the vessel walls. As the condition progresses, blood vessels may leak fluid or blood, leading to swelling (edema) in the retina.
Proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR): In this advanced stage, new abnormal blood vessels begin to grow on the surface of the retina or into the vitreous gel, which fills the center of the eye. These new blood vessels are fragile and prone to bleeding, which can cause severe vision loss and even blindness if left untreated.

Diabetic retinopathy often develops without any noticeable symptoms in the early stages, which is why regular eye examinations are crucial for people with diabetes. Managing blood sugar levels, blood pressure, and cholesterol levels can help prevent or slow the progression of diabetic retinopathy. Treatments such as laser therapy, injections into the eye, or surgery may be necessary in more advanced cases to prevent vision loss.

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