What is diabetic retinopathy? Diabetic retinopathy is the most common diabetic eye disease. It is also the leading cause of blindness in working-age Americans, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine. It is caused by damage to the blood vessels of the retina. The retina is the part of the eye which changes light and images that enter the eye into nerve signals which are then sent to the brain; it is the main portion of the eye which allows us to see.

High blood sugar levels lead to diabetic retinopathy. The risk of developing retinopathy grows the longer a person has diabetes. In fact, according to the National Institutes of Health, almost everyone who has had diabetes for over 30 years will show retinopathy diabetic signs. Diabetics are also at more of a risk if their blood sugar levels are poorly controlled.

Diabetic Retinopathy Symptoms

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