Diabetic Retinopathy is a complication of diabetes in which the retina is damaged as a result of high blood glucose levels. Over a period of time, too much sugar in your blood can result in the blockage of tiny blood vessels that nourish the retina, as a result of this, the eye then attempts to grow new blood vessels, unfortunately these new blood vessels do not develop effectively and leak easily. Diabetic Retinopathy can affect anyone who suffers from type I or type II diabetes, the longer the patient has diabetes and the less controlled it is increases the risk of the patient developing Diabetic Retinopathy. There are two types of Diabetic Retinopathy:
Early Diabetic Retinopathy - This is the more common form of Diabetic Retinopathy known as non-proliferative Diabetic retinopathy (NPDR). Non-proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy means new blood vessels are not growing (proliferating). When a patient has NPDR, the walls of the blood vessels in the retina weaken, tiny micro-aneurysms extrude from the vessel walls of the small vessels, sometimes leaking fluid and blood into the retina. The larger retinal vessels can dilate and can also become irregular in diameter. Nerve fibers within the retina may also begin to swell, in some cases the central part of the retina (the macula) begins to swell, resulting in macular edema which needs treatment.
Advanced Diabetic Retinopathy - This is the more severe type of Diabetic Retinopathy, known as proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy. In Advanced Diabetic Retinopathy, damaged blood vessels obstruct (close off), resulting in the growth of new, and abnormal blood vessels in the retina, these abnormal blood vessels in the retina can leak into the vitreous of the eye. Over time, scar tissue stimulated by the development (growth) of new blood vessels may result in the retina detaching from the back of the eye. If the new blood vessels obstruct the normal flow of fluid coming out of the eye, intraocular pressure may build-up, this can then damage the optic nerve that carries images from the eye to the brain, and this may result in glaucoma. Below is an example of a healthy fundus photo vs. diabetic retinopathy:
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