You may not experience any warning signs of retinal problems due to diabetes. But over time and with the progression of the disease, a range of symptoms such as seeing black spots or strings floating in your vision, known as floaters, blurry vision that comes and goes, frequent changes in vision clarity, the appearance of dark or empty areas in your vision, and gradual loss of vision might occur.

To maintain your eye health and reduce the risk of vision loss, it is very important to manage your blood sugar levels effectively. If you have diabetes, an annual eye exam with pupil dilation is crucial, even if your vision seems fine.

For women, diabetes that develops during or before pregnancy can increase the risk of diabetic retinopathy. Therefore, if you are pregnant, it is essential to follow the ophthalmologist’s recommendations regarding additional eye examinations during pregnancy.

In case of any sudden changes in vision, whether it be blurriness, spots, or distortion, it is imperative to contact an ophthalmologist as soon as possible.

Over time, high blood sugar levels can lead to the blockage of the small blood vessels that nourish the retina, cutting off its blood supply. In response, the eye attempts to grow new blood vessels, but these vessels are often abnormal and leak easily.

There are two types of diabetic retinopathy:

Early diabetic retinopathy: Also known as non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR), this is the more common type where new blood vessels aren’t being formed.

In NPDR, the walls of the blood vessels in the retina weaken, leading to the protrusion of small bulges that may leak blood and fluids into the retina. Larger vessels may dilate and become irregular in diameter. NPDR can progress from mild to severe as more blood vessels become blocked.

Advanced diabetic retinopathy: Diabetic retinopathy can advance to this more severe stage, known as proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR). In this stage, damaged blood vessels are closed off, leading to the growth of new, abnormal blood vessels in the retina. These new vessels are fragile and prone to leaking into the vitreous, the clear fluid that fills the middle of the eye.

Eventually, the scar tissue caused by the growth of new blood vessels can lead to the retina detaching from the back of the eye. If the new blood vessels interfere with the normal flow of fluid out of the eye, pressure may build up in the eyeball, potentially damaging the optic nerve that transmits images from the eye to the brain, resulting in glaucoma.

It is crucial to monitor and manage these conditions carefully to prevent further damage to the eye.

Anyone with diabetes can face diabetic retinopathy. The risk of this eye disease increases due to various factors including:

Having diabetes for a long time.

Poor control of blood sugar levels.

High blood pressure.

High cholesterol levels.

Pregnancy.

Smoking.