Diabetic retinopathy treatment Patients with longstanding diabetes sometimes develop a common and often disabling condition known as Diabetic Retinopathy. This is caused when elevated levels of blood sugar damage the tiny blood vessels in the eye's retina. Usually both eyes are affected at the same time.
Diabetic retinopathy can also cause increased pressure on the eye, that can further diminish vision.
Untreated diabetic retinopathy can lead to complete and irreversible vision loss. This condition is the leading cause of blindness in people ages 20-60 in America today. If diabetic retinopathy is detected early on, blindness can be prevented. The risk of developing diabetic retinopathy is directly proportionate to the length of the illness. Both type I and type II diabetes can lead to retinal damage.