Condition
Diabetic retinopathy
Diabetic retinopathy is damage to the retina, the light-sensing layer at the back of the eye, caused by diabetes. High blood sugar weakens the retina’s small blood vessels over time. Early retinopathy usually causes no symptoms, so regular screening matters for everyone with diabetes.
Medically reviewed by Dr. Meera Krishnan, MBBS, MS (Ophthalmology) —
About diabetic retinopathy
Diabetes can damage the small blood vessels of the retina. The risk rises with how long diabetes has been present and with higher blood sugar and blood pressure. Retinopathy progresses through stages: early changes in the vessels, then leakage or bleeding, and in advanced disease the growth of fragile new vessels. Swelling at the centre of the retina, called diabetic macular oedema, can affect reading vision at any stage.
Symptoms
Early diabetic retinopathy usually causes no symptoms. As it advances, it can cause:
- Blurred or fluctuating vision
- Dark patches or missing areas in vision
- New floaters, from bleeding inside the eye
- Sudden loss of vision in one eye, in advanced disease
When to get help now
Get urgent help for a sudden shower of new floaters, flashes of light, a dark curtain or shadow across vision, or sudden loss of vision. These need same-day assessment.
This website is for information and appointments. It is not monitored for emergencies. For sudden loss of vision, a serious eye injury, or severe eye pain with nausea or vomiting, call 108 for an ambulance or go to the nearest emergency department.
How it is diagnosed
An ophthalmologist examines the retina through widened pupils, often with fundus photography, which records images of the retina. A scan by optical coherence tomography (OCT) measures swelling at the centre of the retina when it is suspected. Because early disease has no symptoms, diagnosis usually comes from screening rather than from anything you notice.
How it is managed
Care has two sides. Controlling blood sugar and blood pressure with your physician lowers the chance of retinopathy developing or worsening. For the stages that threaten sight, treatments in general include laser treatment of the retina and medicine injections into the eye; the ophthalmologist explains which, if any, applies to you. Regular review continues either way.
This page is educational. It does not make any claim about outcomes and is not a treatment plan; care is planned with each patient and coordinated with their diabetes care.
Sources
Medically reviewed by Dr. Meera Krishnan, MBBS, MS (Ophthalmology) —
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
Short answers to the questions patients ask most.
I have diabetes and my vision seems fine. Do I still need my eyes checked?
Yes. Early diabetic retinopathy usually causes no symptoms, and changes can be present while vision still feels normal. Regular retinal screening finds those changes; your doctors advise the interval.
Does diabetic retinopathy always lead to blindness?
No. Many people have only mild changes. Sight-threatening stages exist, which is why screening looks for them while they can still be treated; the ophthalmologist explains what your findings mean.
Can controlling blood sugar protect my eyes?
Keeping blood sugar and blood pressure within the ranges agreed with your physician lowers the chance of retinopathy developing or getting worse. It works alongside screening, not instead of it.
Appointments
Plan your visit.
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