Diabetic Retinopathy

Diabetic Retinopathy is one of the most common causes of blindness in the UK. Retinopathy means damage to the tiny blood vessels (capillaries) that nourish the retina, the tissues in the back of the eye that deal with light. Damage to these vessels causes blood leakage (haemorrhage), which may be small and confined to the retina or may extend forward into the jelly that fills the main cavity of the eye (the vitreous gel). This can seriously affect your vision.

Another feature of diabetic retinopathy is that new, fragile blood vessels grow on the surface of the retina, particularly around the head of the optic nerve (the optic disc). These new vessels bleed easily.

The main cause of diabetic retinopathy is diabetes. It can occur as a result of all types of diabetes and if left untreated can lead to blindness.

It is important to have regular routine eye examinations because if new blood vessel formations are detected early, they can be treated effectively. Any new blood vessels can be dispersed by applying multiple laser burns to the periphery (outside edges) of the retina.

There are three main types of diabetic retinopathy:

Background Retinopathy

The least serious type of retinopathy to affect your eyesight but this should still be regularly monitored by your Optometrist or eye specialist (Ophthalmologist). If you have background retinopathy, small red dots (dot haemorrhages) will appear on your retina. Proteins in the blood may also lead to small yellow patches developing on the back of your eye.

Pre-Proliferative Retinopathy

This is when your retina swells and leaks blood. This can start to obstruct your vision (for example, reading small print may become particularly difficult).

Proliferative Retinopathy

This rarely causes symptoms until it is too late. Symptoms, such as blurred vision, are likely to indicate that severe vitreous bleeding has developed, usually causing a sudden loss of vision.

Normal Vision

The same scene viewed by a person with diabetic retinopathy