Diabetic Retinopathy
Diabetes and your eyes
Diabetic retinopathy can affect anyone who has diabetes, whether they are being treated with insulin, tablets or diet only. Generally, retinopathy has no obvious symptoms until it is well advanced. This is why annual eye examinations are so important for everyone with diabetes.
What is retinopathy?
Diabetic retinopathy affects the blood vessels supplying the retina – the ‘seeing’ part of the eye. Blood vessels can become blocked, leak or grow haphazardly. This affects the way the retina receives the things you see and, if left untreated, can damage vision.
Why is my vision blurred?
Blurred vision is not usually a sign of retinopathy, but is common at the time you are diagnosed with diabetes or just afterwards. Blurred vision is usually caused by the high level of glucose in your blood at this time.
How can I protect my eyes?
Your best defence against retinopathy is to have an eye examination when your diabetes is diagnosed and once a year after that.
What does the eye examination involve?
Your eyes will be checked using an ophthalmoscope to view the retina. Your pupils will first be dilated (widened) using eye drops. Remember – people with diabetes will receive an eye examination funded by the government.
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