Diabetic retinopathy is a condition occurring in persons with diabetes, and is the result of damage to the tiny blood vessels that nourish the retina. The longer a person has diabetes, the more likely they will develop diabetic retinopathy. If left untreated, diabetic retinopathy can cause blindness.
Symptoms of diabetic retinopathy include:
- Seeing spots or floaters in your field of vision
- Blurred vision
- Having a dark or empty spot in the center of your vision
- Difficulty seeing well at night
Often there are no visual symptoms in the early stages of diabetic retinopathy. That is why the American Optometric Association recommends that everyone with diabetes have a comprehensive dilated eye examination once a year.
Diabetic retinopathy is classified into two types:
- Non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR) is the early state of the disease in which symptoms will be mild or non-existent.
- Proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) is the more advanced form of the disease. At this stage, circulation problems cause the retina to become oxygen deprived. If left untreated, proliferative diabetic retinopathy can cause severe vision loss and even blindness.
Risk factors for diabetic retinopathy include:
- Race - Hispanic and African Americans are at greater risk for developing diabetic retinopathy.
- Medical conditions - persons with other medical conditions such as high blood pressure and high cholesterol are at greater risk.
- Pregnancy - pregnant women face a higher risk for developing diabetes and diabetic retinopathy. If gestational diabetes develops, the patient is at much higher risk of developing diabetes as they age.
If you are a diabetic, you can help prevent or slow the development of diabetic retinopathy by taking your prescribed medication, sticking to your diet, exercising regularly, controlling high blood pressure and avoiding alcohol and smoking.
