How Diabetes Can Damage Your Eyes: A Guide to Diabetic Retinopathy

Diabetic Retinopathy: What It Is, Why It Matters, and How to Protect Your Vision

Diabetes affects millions of people worldwide, and one of its most serious complications is Diabetic Retinopathy—a leading cause of vision loss among adults. The good news is that early detection and proper management can prevent or slow down vision damage.

At Eagle Eye Foundation, we are committed to educating the public about eye health and preventing avoidable blindness. This article explains diabetic retinopathy in simple terms and highlights how you can protect your sight.

What Is Diabetic Retinopathy?

Diabetic retinopathy is an eye condition that occurs when high blood sugar levels damage the blood vessels in the retina—the light-sensitive layer at the back of the eye responsible for vision.

Over time, these damaged blood vessels may:

• Leak fluid or blood

• Swell

• Close off completely

• Grow abnormally

When this happens, vision becomes affected and can worsen if not treated.

Who Is at Risk?

Anyone with diabetes can develop diabetic retinopathy, including:

• People with Type 1 diabetes

• People with Type 2 diabetes

• Pregnant women with diabetes

The risk increases if:

• Diabetes is poorly controlled

• You’ve had diabetes for many years

• You have high blood pressure or high cholesterol

• You smoke

Stages of Diabetic Retinopathy

Diabetic retinopathy usually develops gradually and progresses through stages:

1. Mild to Moderate Non-Proliferative Retinopathy

Small areas of swelling appear in the retinal blood vessels. Vision may still be normal at this stage.

2. Severe Non-Proliferative Retinopathy

More blood vessels become blocked, reducing blood supply to the retina.

3. Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy (Advanced Stage)

New, fragile blood vessels grow abnormally. These can bleed into the eye, cause scarring, and lead to serious vision loss or blindness.

Common Symptoms

In the early stages, diabetic retinopathy may have no noticeable symptoms. As it progresses, symptoms may include:

• Blurred or fluctuating vision

• Dark spots or floaters

• Difficulty seeing at night

• Faded or distorted colors

• Partial or complete vision loss

This is why regular eye examinations are critical, even when vision seems fine.

How Is Diabetic Retinopathy Diagnosed?

An eye care professional can detect diabetic retinopathy through:

• Dilated eye examinations

• Retinal imaging

• Optical coherence tomography (OCT)

• Fluorescein angiography

Early diagnosis makes treatment more effective.

Treatment Options

Treatment depends on the stage and severity of the condition and may include:

• Blood sugar, blood pressure, and cholesterol control

• Laser treatment

• Eye injections

• Eye surgery in advanced cases

Early treatment can prevent severe vision loss in most patients.

How to Prevent Diabetic Retinopathy

You can significantly reduce your risk by:

• Keeping blood sugar levels under control

• Managing blood pressure and cholesterol

• Attending regular comprehensive eye exams

• Eating a balanced diet

• Avoiding smoking

• Taking prescribed medications consistently

Our Message at Eagle Eye Foundation

Diabetic retinopathy is preventable and manageable—but only if detected early. No one should lose their sight due to lack of awareness or late diagnosis.

At Eagle Eye Foundation, we encourage everyone living with diabetes to make eye health a priority. Regular eye checks can save vision and improve quality of life.

Protect Your Eyes. Protect Your Future.

For more eye health education and awareness programs, stay connected with Eagle Eye Foundation.