Diabetic Eye Disease

Diabetic retinopathy is the result of damage caused by diabetes to the small blood vessels that nourish the back of the eye called the retina.  These blood vessels leak blood and other fluid that cause swelling of retinal tissue and clouding of vision.  The longer a person has diabetes, the more likely they will develop diabetic retinopathy.  If left untreated, diabetic retinopathy can cause blindness.

Symptoms of diabetic retinopathy include:

• Seeing spots or floating strings
• Blurred vision
• Having a dark or empty spot in the center of your vision
• Difficulty seeing well at night

Often there are no visual symptoms in the early stages of diabetic retinopathy.  That is why it is recommended that everyone with diabetes have a comprehensive dilated eye examination at least once a year. Early detection and treatment can limit the potential for significant vision loss from diabetic retinopathy.