Diabetic retinopathy

Diabetic retinopathy is a diabetes complication that affects eyes. It's caused by damage to the blood vessels of the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye (retina).

Symptoms

You might not have symptoms in the early stages of diabetic retinopathy. As the condition progresses, diabetic retinopathy symptoms may include:

• Spots or dark strings floating in your vision (floaters)
• Blurred vision
• Fluctuating vision
• Impaired color vision
• Dark or empty areas in your vision
• Vision loss

Causes

Over time, too much sugar in your blood can lead to the blockage of the tiny blood vessels that nourish the retina, cutting off its blood supply. As a result, the eye attempts to grow new blood vessels. But these new blood vessels don't develop properly and can leak easily.

There are two types of diabetic retinopathy:

• Early diabetic retinopathy.
• Advanced diabetic retinopathy. 

Risk factors

• Duration of diabetes — the longer you have diabetes, the greater your risk of developing diabetic retinopathy
• Poor control of your blood sugar level
• High blood pressure
• High cholesterol
• Pregnancy
• Tobacco use
• Being African-American, Hispanic or Native American

Complications

• Vitreous hemorrhage. 
• Retinal detachment. 
• Glaucoma.
• Blindness. 

Prevention

• Manage your diabetes. 
• Monitor your blood sugar level. 
• Ask your doctor about a glycosylated hemoglobin test. 
• Keep your blood pressure and cholesterol under control. 
• If you smoke or use other types of tobacco, ask your doctor to help you quit. 
• Pay attention to vision changes. 

Treatment

•  Laser Photocoagulation
•  Anti-VEGF injection
•  Pars plana vitrectomy
•  Surgery for tractionnal retinal detachment.