Diabetic retinopathy is a diabetic complication caused by damage to the retina’s blood vessels in the back of the eye. In the initial stages, diabetic retinopathy may not have any symptoms or only mild vision problems. However, if left untreated, it can lead to blindness. Diabetes retinopathy can develop in anyone who has uncontrolled sugars in both types of diabetes. The longer someone has been diagnosed with diabetes and the less optimally controlled their blood sugar is, the higher their risk of developing diabetic retinopathy. Two stages of diabetes retinopathy are non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy and proliferative diabetic retinopathy. Accurately managing blood sugar levels, blood pressure, and cholesterol is vital to prevent or slow the progression of diabetic retinopathy. In addition, regular eye exams are also important for early identification and management, which can prevent vision loss.

DIabetic Retinopathy