Diabetic Retinopathy
The impaired blood glucose levels due to Diabetes cause progressive dysfunction of the small blood vessels called Diabetic retinopathy. A potentially blinding disease in the early stages, the patient would present with Retinal hemorrhages and other retinal changes, but this will not cause any symptoms. The central area called macula is involved commonly and that can cause decrease in vision and blurring. In the severe stage of the disease, there can be bleeding and retinal detachment which is blinding and may need surgical intervention.
Any diabetic, with uncontrolled blood sugars or with long duration of diabetes can develop some form of diabetic retinopathy. All diabetics need a dilated fundus examination annually or as decided by the physician to access the progression of retinopathy.