Diabetic Retinopathy – Overview
Diabetic retinopathy is a serious eye condition that affects people with diabetes. It develops when consistently high blood sugar levels damage the small blood vessels in the retina—the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye. If left untreated, diabetic retinopathy can cause permanent vision loss and is one of the leading causes of blindness in working-age adults worldwide.
The retina requires a constant blood supply to function properly. In individuals with diabetes, prolonged hyperglycaemia weakens and distorts the blood vessels, causing them to leak fluid or bleed. Over time, this damage disrupts the retina’s ability to process light and images, leading to blurred vision and other complications. In advanced stages, the eye may attempt to grow new blood vessels, but these are often fragile and prone to further leakage or bleeding.
There are four main stages of diabetic retinopathy: mild, moderate, and severe non-proliferative retinopathy, and proliferative retinopathy. Early stages may have no symptoms, which is why regular eye screening is essential for people with diabetes. As the condition progresses, signs such as floaters, blurriness, and dark spots in vision may appear.
Diabetic Retinopathy
While anyone with type 1 or type 2 diabetes is at risk, the chances of developing diabetic retinopathy increase with poor blood sugar control, long-term diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and smoking. Pregnancy can also accelerate the progression in some individuals.
In summary, diabetic retinopathy is a progressive and preventable complication of diabetes that can lead to severe vision problems. With routine eye exams and proper diabetes management, early detection and treatment can preserve eyesight and quality of life.
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