Diabetic Retinopathy Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences What is it? Diabetic retinopathy is an eye complication of diabetes mellitus. It results from damage to the retinal blood vessels at the back of the eye. Diabetic retinopathy usually causes no or mild symptoms. However, advanced diabetic retinopathy, if untreated, can result in blindness. The condition usually affects both eyes. What are the risk factors? All diabetic patients are at risk of diabetic retinopathy, and the risk increases the longer the diabetic condition persists. The risk is highest for those who smoke, have poor control of blood sugar levels, as well as high blood pressure and cholesterol.
Figure 1. Normal Retina
Figure 2. Early diabetic retinopathy with retinal swelling at the macula
Figure 3. Advanced diabetic retinopathy with bleeding in the back of the eye
Figure 4. Advanced diabetic retinopathy with retinal detachment