Diabetic retinopathy, damage to the retina of the eye caused by high blood glucose, is the leading cause of new cases of blindness among people ages 20-74 in developed countries. There are several types of treatment for diabetic retinopathy, but the best approach is early detection and treatment, which can reduce the risk of blindness by 95%.
What causes it
The retina is the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye. It detects light and sends signals that travel to the brain by way of the optic nerve to create the images that we see. Chronically elevated blood glucose levels associated with poorly controlled diabetes gradually damage the tiny blood vessels in the retina. The damage causes these vessels to leak fluid or bleed, distorting vision. In advanced cases, new, abnormal blood vessels grow (or “proliferate”) on the surface of the retina, which can cause
