What is 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).
At first, diabetic retinopathy might cause no symptoms or only mild vision problems. But it can lead to blindness. The condition can develop in anyone who has type 1 or type 2 diabetes.
The longer you have diabetes and the less controlled your blood sugar is, the more likely you are to develop this eye complication.
You might not have symptoms in the early stages of diabetic retinopathy. As the condition progresses, you might develop:
Spots or dark strings floating in your vision (floaters)
- Blurred vision
- Fluctuating vision
- Dark or empty areas in your vision
- Vision loss
The best way to prevent vision loss is to manage your diabetes properly.
When diagnosing diabetes, you should often consult an ophthalmologist - you should register for the examination even when nothing bothers you, ie you do not complain of a problem in the eyes.
Of course, you should consult an ophthalmologist as soon as you notice any symptoms related to vision.
You can't always prevent diabetic retinopathy. However, regular eye exams, good control of your blood sugar and blood pressure, and early intervention for vision problems can help prevent severe vision loss.
Source:
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/diabetic-retinopathy/symptoms-
