Diabetic Retinopathy

Diabetic retinopathy is damage to the blood vessels of the retina caused by prolonged high blood sugar levels, and is a leading cause of vision loss among adults with diabetes. Regular eye screening allows early detection and treatment before significant vision loss occurs.

• Often no symptoms in early stages, which is why regular screening is essential even without visual complaints
• Blurred or fluctuating vision as the condition progresses
• Dark spots or floaters in vision
• Difficulty seeing at night
• Sudden vision loss can occur with more advanced complications, such as bleeding within the eye

• Results from prolonged high blood sugar levels damaging the small blood vessels supplying the retina.
• Risk increases with the duration of diabetes and is strongly linked to the level of long-term blood sugar control, as well as blood pressure control.
• Both type 1 and type 2 diabetes carry this risk, and it can affect people with either type given sufficient duration of disease.

• Diagnosed through a dilated eye examination or retinal photography performed by a trained eye care provider, looking for characteristic changes in the retinal blood vessels.
• Regular screening is recommended for everyone with diabetes, typically starting from diagnosis for type 2 diabetes and after a few years of diagnosis for type 1 diabetes, then repeated periodically, since early disease often causes no symptoms.

Good long-term control of blood sugar, blood pressure, and cholesterol is the most important measure to prevent or slow the progression of diabetic retinopathy.

Regular retinal screening allows early detection, when treatment is most effective at preventing vision loss.

More advanced diabetic retinopathy may be treated with laser treatment or, for certain complications, injections into the eye or surgery, provided at a specialist eye care facility.

Ongoing coordination between diabetes care and eye care supports the best long-term visual outcomes.

• Attend regular retinal screening as recommended once diagnosed with diabetes, even without visual symptoms.
• Maintain good long-term blood sugar control, as this is the most effective way to prevent or delay diabetic retinopathy.
• Control blood pressure and cholesterol, which also influence the risk of retinal damage.
• Seek prompt eye assessment for any new visual symptoms, such as blurred vision, floaters, or vision loss.