Diabetic Retinopathy

Don't overlook your eyes - an eye test is an eye health check!

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Diabetic Retinopathy

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Click the arrows from 1 to 5 to see how having Diabetic Retinopathy affects your vision. If undetected through an eye test it can lead to blindness.

What is a Diabetic Retinopathy?

Diabetic Retinopathy is normally graded according to how serve it is. It can start with background Diabetic Retinopathy, where the blood vessels in the retina are only mildly affected and may bulge slightly or may leak blood. With time, if the background Diabetic Retinopathy becomes more severe, the macula area may be involved. If this happens your central vision will gradually get worse.

As the condition progresses, it can sometime cause the blood vessels in the retina to become blocked. If this happens then new blood vessels form in the eye. This is called Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy. These new blood vessels can bleed and cause scaring, distorting the retina and possible pulling it out of position.

Caught early enough by having a sight test, progression of the condition can be stopped.

For more information on Diabetic Retinopathy please click the link to be redirected to the RNIB website.

Find an Optician near to you on the NHS Choices website.

Don't overlook your eyes - an eye test is an eye health check!