Diabetic retinopathy is a complication of diabetes. It is another complication that can happen when you have been diabetic for a very long time or if your blood sugar is not controlled. Blood vessels in the eyes start to grow and eventually leaking occurs. In the beginning, there may be no symptoms at all but as the disease progresses, it can eventually lead to blindness if left untreated. As symptoms do begin, they usually include dark spots or strings in the vision (floaters), blurred vision, dark or empty areas in vision, and poor night vision. Once diagnosed, treatment can include laser treatments to the eyes and/or vitrectomy surgery to repair the retina. Once the condition is stable, it is important to have regular check ups to ensure the condition is remaining stable and as with any other complications, it is extremely important to keep blood sugars under control at all times. Regular check ups are necessary to catch any new leaks or damage in the eyes so they can be treated with additional laser treatments or surgery as early as possible.
