Diabetic retinopathy

Diabetic retinopathy is an eye disease that occurs as a fairly common complication of diabetes: it is estimated to affect about 1 in 3 people with diabetes.

High blood glucose levels impair the capillaries in the retina, which undergo a degenerative process: this leads to a series of alterations that eventually have a negative impact on the subject’s ability to see.

The main cause of diabetic retinopathy is poorly controlled diabetes. Retinopathy is a progressive disease, which starts slowly, causing some treatable complaints, but over time leads to irreparable damage: in the most extreme cases it can even lead to blindness.

Diabetic retinopathy can affect one or both eyes and is classified into two main forms: non-proliferative retinopathy (when the disease is at an early stage) or proliferative retinopathy (when the retinopathy is in its most advanced and dangerous stage, and can even cause retinal detachment). Macular oedema may also occur, i.e. fluid in the macula, the part of the retina most important for visual function.

Although diabetic retinopathy does not manifest any specific symptoms at an early stage, the following symptoms may occur over time:

• blurred vision;
• difficulty in distinguishing colours;
• decreased night vision;
• appearance of myodesopsias (“floaters”) in the vision;
• dark halos in the field of vision.

The best way to combat diabetic retinopathy is prevention, combined with regular check-ups. People with diabetes should make sure to follow their medication correctly, keep their blood sugar levels under control, and remember to have regular eye examinations to assess the function of the ocular fundus.