Overview
Diabetic retinopathy is damage to the tiny blood vessels of the retina at the back of the eye caused by long-standing high blood sugar, and it is a leading cause of blindness in working-age adults. It develops silently, without symptoms, until vision is already affected — which is why everyone with diabetes needs a regular eye check. Caught early, treatment can protect sight, so keeping sugar and blood pressure controlled and never skipping the yearly eye exam is vital.
Symptoms
- No symptoms in the early, most treatable stage
- Gradually blurring or fluctuating vision
- Dark floating spots or streaks in the vision
- Difficulty seeing at night
- Sudden vision loss if a vessel bleeds
When to see a doctor
If you have diabetes, get a dilated eye exam at least once a year even without symptoms, and urgently for sudden vision loss or many new floaters.
Emergency — call 108 or go to the nearest hospital
- Sudden loss of vision, or a shower of new floaters and flashes — go to an eye doctor immediately
Causes
Long-standing high blood sugar that weakens and damages the retinal blood vessels; risk rises with poor sugar and blood-pressure control and duration of diabetes.