Diabetic Retinopathy

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According to a 2008 study conducted by Prevent Blindness America and the National Eye Institute, more than 4.4 million Americans are affected by diabetic retinopathy, a large increase from previous years.

Diabetic retinopathy is caused by damaged blood vessels from elevated blood sugar levels in diabetics. The damaged vessels can leak fluid or bleed, causing the retina to swell and form deposits and leading to an early stage of the disease. Although not all diabetics have diabetic retinopathy, they are all at risk to develop it.

Signs of diabetic retinopathy:

These signs and symptoms are common problems, and you may overlook them. It is therefore very important to receive regular eye exams from your eye doctor.

Diabetic retinopathy can be treated with a laser to stop the blood vessels from leaking and get rid of new growth. This is a painless treatment since the retina doesn't have nerve endings. Another procedure involves removing blood that has seeped into the vitreous humor, the clear, jelly-like substance that fills the center of the eye, and waiting for it to naturally regenerate, which will hopefully lead to improved vision.

For more information on diabetic retinopathy and other eye-related information, visit AllAboutVision.com.