Diabetes also increases your risk of having glaucoma, cataracts, and other eye problems.
Causes, incidence, and risk factors
Diabetic retinopathy is caused by damage to blood vessels of the retina. The retina is the layer of tissue at the back of the inner eye. It changes light and images that enter the eye into nerve signals that are sent to the brain.
Diabetic retinopathy is the leading cause of blindness in working-age Americans. People with type 1 and type 2 diabetes are at risk for this condition.
There are two stages of diabetic retinopathy:
- Nonproliferative develops first
- Proliferative is more advanced and severe
The chance of getting retinopathy and having a more severe form is greater when:
- You have had diabetes for a long time
- Your diabetes has been poorly controlled
Other problems that may develop are:
- Cataracts -- cloudiness of the eye lens
- Glaucoma -- increased pressure in the eye that can lead to blindness
- Macular edema -- blurry vision due to fluid leaking into the area of the retina that provides sharp central vision
- Retinal detachment -- scarring that may cause part of the retina to pull away from the back of your eyeball
Symptoms
Most often, diabetic retinopathy has no symptoms until the damage to your eyes is severe.
Symptoms of diabetic retinopathy include:
- Blurred vision and slow vision loss over time
- Floaters
- Shadows or missing areas of vision
- Trouble seeing at night
Many people with early diabetic retinopathy have no symptoms before major bleeding occurs in the eye. This is why everyone with diabetes should have regular eye exams.
6.40 minutes video explanation on understanding diabetic retinopathy
Sources: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov, www.youtube.com
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