Diabetic Eye Disease

Diabetics cannot use or store sugar properly due to lack of endogenous insulin. High blood sugar can damage the blood vessels of the retina (inner lining of the eye) and when they are damaged, they can leak fluid or bleed. This causes the retina to swell and form deposits leading to diabetic retinopathy.
In fact, the longer someone has diabetes, the more likely is to have diabetic retinopathy. Everyone who has diabetes is at risk for developing diabetic retinopathy, but not all diabetics do develop it.

Symptoms
In its early stages, patients may not notice any change in their vision, but it can lead to the later, sight-threatening form of the disease.

Sometimes difficulty reading or doing close work can indicate that fluid is collecting in the macula, the most light- sensitive part of the retina. This fluid build-up is called macular edema. Floaters can be a sign of diabetic retinopathy. Another sign is double vision, which occurs when the nerves controlling the eye muscles are affected.

If you experience any of these signs, you need to see a vitreoretinal specialist immediately. Otherwise, diabetics should see their retina specialist at least once a year for a dilated eye exam.

Types of Diabetic Retinopathy

Non proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy

This early stage of the disease is characterized by leakage of fluid, lipids and blood into the retina causing swelling and deposit formation

Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy

In this later stage, new blood vessels grow on the surface of the retina. These new blood vessels can lead to serious vision problems because they can break and bleed into the vitreous (vitreous hemorrhage), the clear, jelly-like substance that fills the eye. Proliferative retinopathy is a much more serious form of the disease and can lead to blindness.

Diabetic maculopathy
In some instances the leaking fluid accumulates at the macula, the area responsible for central vision and for recognizing numbers and letters. This is called diabetic macular edema and if not treated promptly may lead to blindness.