Since the patient does not experience pain or external symptoms such as bloodshot eyes or discharge, changes in the retina can go unnoticed unless detected by an eye examination. When bleeding occurs in proliferative retinopathy, the patient has clouding or complete loss of vision. Connective tissue pulling on the retina causes distortion and blurring. However, if abnormalities occur in the peripheral retina, the patient may not experience any symptoms. A comprehensive eye examination and appropriate treatment by an ophthalmologist is the best protection against eye damage due to diabetic retinopathy.
Serious retinopathy can be present without symptoms, which can improve with treatment.
To detect diabetic retinopathy, a painless examination of the inner eye is conducted using an ophthalmoscope. If diabetic retinopathy is detected, a fluorescein angiography, the taking of rapid photographs as dye passes through the retinal blood vessels, is often used to determine what or even if further treatment is necessary. Diabetic retinopathy is a complication of a disease which can strike anyone. Even the most careful diabetic has a 50-50 chance of developing retinopathy, particularly if they have had the disease for 15 years or more. Treatment of diabetic retinopathy depends on the location of the disease and the degree of damage to the retina.