The new blood vessels can also cause scar tissue to develop, which can pull the retina away from the back of the eye. This is known as retinal detachment, and can lead to blindness if untreated. Every person with diabetes is at risk of developing diabetic retinopathy. The longer a person has diabetes the more likely the person is to develop diabetic retinopathy. Regular eye exams when first diagnosed with diabetes and then at least every two years will reduce your risk of vision loss and blindness.
Tight control can delay the development of retinopathy.
There are no symptoms in the early stages of diabetic retinopathy. Vision may not change until the disease is advanced. An ophthalmologist, optometrist, your family doctor or a health worker may conduct eye-screening examinations. Diabetic retinopathy can also be detected during screening with a specie camera that photographs the back of the eye without the use of dilating drops. Laser treatment is used to treat retinopathy.