This complication affects the blood vessels inside the eye and can lead to blindness if untreated .However if diagnosed and treated early much of this blindness is preventable. Diabetic retinopathy begins in your eyes without your noticing any change in vision. Often, there may be severe and extensive changes before your vision is affected. Because of this it is very important to get your eyes examined regularly by an eye specialist. Ideally you should get your eyes examined atleast six-monthly to yearly.
Diabetic retinopathy is a term used to describe the changes in the blood vessels of the retina.
The retina is a thin membrane which covers the back of the eye. This membrane receives light from outside and converts it to signals the brain can understand. There are two stages of retinopathy- Nonproliferative and Proliferative NonProliferative is the earlier of the two changes and is more common. Proliferative is the next stage. New abnormal vessels can develop in the retina and grow towards the center of the eye.