Illinois Society for the Prevention of Blindness

Anyone with diabetes, The longer someone has diabetes, the more likely he or she will get diabetic retinopathy: Nearly half of all people with diabetes will develop some degree of diabetic retinopathy during their lifetime.

Diabetic retinopathy. This disease is a leading cause of blindness in American adults. It is caused by changes in the blood vessels of the retina.

Diabetic eye disease refers to a group of eye problems that people with diabetes may face as a complication of this disease. All can cause severe vision loss or even blindness.

Finding and treating the disease early, before it causes vision loss or blindness, is the best way to control diabetic eye disease.

Often there are none in the early stages of the disease. Vision may not change until the disease becomes severe. Nor is there any pain.

If you have diabetes, you should have your eyes examined at least once a year.

If you have diabetes, you are also at risk for other diabetic eye diseases. Studies show that you are twice as likely to get a cataract as a person who does not have the disease. Also, cataracts develop at an earlier age in people with diabetes. Cataracts can usually be treated by surgery.

Yes. Your eye care professional may suggest laser surgery in which a strong lightbeam is aimed onto the retina to shrink the abnormal vessels.

Not totally, but your risk can be greatly reduced. The Diabetes Control and Complications Trial (DCCT) showed that better control of blood sugar level slows the onset and progression of retinopathy and lessens the need for laser surgery for severe retinopathy.

Don't lose sight of diabetic eye disease

Diabetes is a very serious disease that can cause problems like blindness, heart disease, kidney failure, and amputations.