Diabetic retinopathy
Overview
Diabetic retinopathy is an eye condition caused by diabetes. It can lead to sight loss, but finding and treating it early reduces the risk.
Symptoms
Diabetic retinopathy does not usually have any symptoms at first. It's usually found when you go to yourdiabetic eye screeningappointments. In the later stages, symptoms can include: your eyesight getting worseblurred visiondots and lines (floaters) in your visionfinding it harder to see in the dark or low light The symptoms may gradually get worse over time. It can eventually lead to sight loss. Symptoms can affect one or both eyes.
Treatment
It's not possible to cure sight loss caused by diabetic retinopathy. The aim of treatment is to help stop your vision from getting worse. If you're diagnosed with diabetic retinopathy it's important to manage your diabetes well to help stop it getting worse. If you have background or pre-proliferative diabetic retinopathy, you will not need treatment. You'll be monitored at your regular eye screening appointments. If you have proliferative diabetic retinopathy, you'll be referred to an eye specialist for treatment. The main treatments are: laser treatment on the blood vessels at the back of your eye (laser photocoagulation)regular eye injections of a medicine called anti-VEGF, which reduces damage to blood vesselsan implant in your eye that gradually releases steroid medicine, to reduce swelling in your eyeeye surgery, such as an operation to remove scar tissue or blood from the back of your eye Your specialist will advise on what treatment is best for you. They'll explain the risks and benefits of the procedure, and what will happen.