The prevalence of retinopathy is strongly related to the duration of diabetes.
Diabetic retinopathy poses a serious threat to vision.
Over the subsequent 2 decades, nearly all type 1 patients develop retinopathy. Pregnancy, puberty, and cataract surgery can accelerate these changes. Vision loss due to diabetic retinopathy results from several mechanisms. First, central vision may be impaired by macular edema or capillary nonperfusion. Second, the new blood vessels of PDR and contraction of the accompanying fibrous tissue can distort the retina and lead to tractional retinal detachment, producing severe and often irreversible vision loss.