What is Diabetic Retinopathy (Diabetic Eye Disease)?

Diabetic Retinopathy (Diabetic Eye Disease)

Diabetic retinopathy is a complication of diabetes, causing poor or blurred vision. It can lead to permanent blindness if left untreated.

In the early stages of the disorder there are often no obvious symptoms. But these become more noticeable as diabetic retinopathy becomes more advanced. It can be treated and managed.

Diabetic retinopathy damages the retina— the part of your eye that converts light into the electrical signals which are turned into images by your brain. A high blood sugar level can damage the blood vessels in your retina, causing it to send blurred images to your brain. This can result in distorted vision and blindness.