Diabetes and Diabetic Retinopathy
Early Detection and Treatment
Diabetic retinopathy is a diabetes complication that affects the eyes.
Symptoms
Diabetic retinopathy often has no symptoms in its early stages. As it progresses, you may experience:
- Blurred vision
- Floaters
- Dark spots
- Loss of central vision
- Loss of side (peripheral) vision
Causes
Diabetic retinopathy is caused by damage to the blood vessels in the retina. These blood vessels can:
- Leak fluid and blood
- Become blocked
- Grow new, abnormal blood vessels
These changes can lead to swelling, bleeding, and scarring of the retina. They can also cause the retina to detach from the back of the eye.
Risk Factors
You are at risk for diabetic retinopathy if you have:
- Diabetes
- High blood pressure
- High cholesterol
- Obesity
- A family history of diabetic retinopathy
Complications
Diabetic retinopathy can lead to a number of serious complications, including:
- Loss of vision
- Glaucoma
- Cataracts
- Retinal detachment
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