Function to 'deactivate' images. Retinopathy is a devastating complication of diabetes that can lead to blindness. The risk of diabetic retinopathy is directly related to the number of years a person has had diabetes, and how well or poorly the blood sugar has been controlled. Promising research indicates that supplements, including vitamins, bilberry, and lipoic acid, may also help slow or prevent this debilitating condition.
Diabetic retinopathy begins with damage to the blood vessels in the eye.
Leakage from capillaries is one of the first signs, followed by swelling, blockage of vessels, and small hemorrhages. If swelling occurs in the region of the macula, the most sensitive part of the retina, the resulting loss of vision may be serious and possibly permanent. In this condition, the retina tries to compensate for lack of oxygen by forming more blood vessels. Unfortunately, these fragile new vessels bleed easily, leading to scars that can distort the retina, sometimes pulling it from the back of the eye. Ophthalmologists commonly treat proliferative retinopathy with laser therapy.