Causes
Diabetes can cause diabetic retinopathy, which is an eye disease. It can lead to severe vision loss or even blindness.
It is most common in people with diabetes who do not have good blood sugar control. Blood vessels in the retina are damaged by high blood sugar levels.
Swelling results from the leakage of these damaged blood vessels.
Abnormal new blood vessels may begin to grow on the retina as the disease progresses. They are delicate and frequently bleed inside your eye or cause scarring.
Symptoms
Diabetic retinopathy can go undetected for a long time. In its early stages, it often has no symptoms.
As the disease progresses and symptoms appear, you may notice the following:
Prevention
You can take steps to prevent diabetes-related vision loss:
Even if you don't have any vision problems, you should get regular eye exams. During the early stages of diabetic retinopathy, the majority of people have no symptoms. This is when treatment is most effective. According to the American Diabetes Association:
Treatment
Keep your blood sugar and blood pressure levels within the target range to prevent the condition from worsening.
Other diabetic retinopathy treatments include:
