Diabetic Eye Disease
Diabetic retinopathy damages retinal blood vessels and can threaten vision if it is not detected and monitored.
Diabetes can damage the small blood vessels in the retina. This condition is called diabetic retinopathy and may lead to swelling, bleeding, abnormal new blood vessels, retinal traction, or vision loss.
Early diabetic retinopathy may not cause noticeable symptoms. Regular dilated retinal examinations are important for people with diabetes, even when vision seems normal.
In non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy, retinal blood vessels may leak fluid or blood. Swelling in the macula, known as diabetic macular edema, can make reading and close work difficult.
In proliferative diabetic retinopathy, fragile new blood vessels grow on the retinal surface. These vessels can bleed into the vitreous, create scar tissue, pull on the retina, and increase the risk of retinal detachment or glaucoma.
