Diabetes is a disease where your body cannot regulate its sugar levels. Your eyes are one of the organs affected by diabetes. If your eyes are affected
it is called diabetic retinopathy and is potentially blinding. For this reason it is important to regulary undergo a thorough eye examination by a ophthalmologist.
This condition is very common in people who have had diabetes for five years or longer. At this stage the blood vessels in the retina are only mildly affected. There may be areas of swelling and haemorrhage. Your vision may still be normal at this stage depending on the area of the retina that is affected.
This refers to swelling or haemorrhage in the macula of the retina. This will affect your central vision. You may notice a decrease or distortion in your vision. This is usually when your ophthalmologist will start treatment.
Retinopathy progresses over time to a more serious stage where the blood vessels are so damaged that they close off. In response, new vessels are weak and bleed into the cavity of the eye. This is called vitreous haemorrhage. The new blood vessels grow into vitreous gel from the surface of the retina. Following this, scar tissue starts growing into this cavity too. Then the scar tissue shrinks and pulls the retina out of place - this is called tractional retinal detachment. At this stage your vision will be poor and surgery would be necessary.