Signs and Symptoms of Diabetic Retinopathy

Signs and Symptoms of Diabetic Retinopathy

Diabetic retinopathy is one of the leading causes of new cases of vision loss in adults. It is the most common cause of blindness for people with diabetes. You may not experience early symptoms of this condition. However, undergoing an annual comprehensive eye exam can help you catch diabetic retinopathy early to prevent complications. 

 

What Is Diabetic Retinopathy?

This eye condition is a diabetes complication. It develops due to the high levels of blood sugar caused by diabetes. Over time, high blood sugar levels can cause damage to all the blood vessels, including those at the back of the eye. 

 

The retina, the tissue located at the rear of the eye, transmits messages through the optic nerve to the brain. When the sugar starts to block the blood vessels going into the back of the eye, it leads to leaking or bleeding. New vessels may grow in the eye, but they are often weaker and tend to bleed or leak more easily. 

 

Proliferative and Non-proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy

The former is a condition where new blood vessels begin growing in the eye. According to experts, diabetic retinopathy in this case is more advanced. The latter refers to the earlier stage of the condition. 

 

When the blood sugar is high for long, your eye may accumulate fluid, which can change the lens’s curve and shape. This will lead to changes in your vision. Once you get your levels of blood sugar under control, however, the lens is likely to get back to its former shape, which will lead to vision improvement. 

 

According to studies, more than two in five Americans with diabetes have diabetic retinopathy to a particular stage. If you are diabetic, you need to understand that your condition can increase your chances of getting into further eye problems. These include open-angle glaucoma and cataracts. 

 

Signs and Symptoms

Diabetic retinopathy can develop if you have either type-1 or type-2 diabetes. At first, this condition might present mild or no symptoms at all. Left undiagnosed and untreated, however, it can cause blindness. The longer you live with diabetes and the less you control your blood sugar levels, the more likely you are to develop this complication.

 

This eye condition usually affects both eyes. Some of the common signs and symptoms that become noticeable at this stage include:

 

• Impaired color vision
  
   

• Poor night vision
  
   

• Blurred vision
  
   

• An empty or dark spot in the center of your vision
  
   

• Dark strings and transparent spots or eye floaters in your field of vision
  
   

• Streaks or patches that block your vision
  
   

• A total and sudden loss of vision
  
   

Complications 

Without treatment, this condition can lead to various complications. The tiny blood vessels in your eye can bleed into the jelly that fills your eye. Known as vitreous hemorrhage, this complication can cause vision loss in severe cases. 

 

Sometimes, diabetic retinopathy can cause a detached retina. This will lead to the appearance of flashes of light and floating spots in your field of vision. It can also lead to severe vision loss if you fail to seek treatment.

 

To learn more about diabetic retinopathy, visit Justice Vision Clinic at our office in Duluth, Georgia. You can also call (770) 626-7883 today to schedule an appointment.