Eye damage (Retinopathy)

What is Eye damage (Retinopathy) ? Over time, diabetes can cause changes in the retina at the back of the eye. Your
retina helps you see by acting like a film projector in the back of your eye, projecting the image to your brain. The change is retinopathy. There are a couple of different types that affect people with diabetes. The macula, becomes swollen (macular edema) and this can cause blindness. A second complication is the growth of new weak blood vessels. These break and leak blood into your eye so the retina cannot project images to your brain. The result is a loss of sight.

Diabetes causes changes in the tiny blood vessels that nourish the retina. Leaking vessels often lead to swelling (edema) in the retina and decreased vision. At this stage, vision may be normal or it may have started to blur or change. About one in four people with diabetes experience this problem.

Blood vessels become blocked or closed, and parts of the retina die. New, abnormal, blood vessels grow to replace the old ones. Unfortunately, these delicate vessels hemorrhage . Blood may leak into the retina and vitreous, causing spots that appear to drift in front of the eyes. This is Called proliferative retinopathy, and it affects about one in 20 people with diabetes. It can lead to severe visual loss or blindness.