These symptoms do not necessarily mean you have diabetic retinopathy, but it's important to get them checked out. Everyone with diabetes who is 12 years old or over is invited for eye screening.

How often you're invited depends on your last 2 screening results. If diabetic retinopathy was not found at your last 2 tests, you'll be invited every 2 years.

The screening test involves examining the back of the eyes and taking photographs. Depending on your result, you may be advised to attend more regular appointments or discuss treatment options with a specialist. Read more about diabetic eye screening.

You can reduce your risk of developing diabetic retinopathy, or help prevent it getting worse, by:. Read more about how to prevent diabetic retinopathy. Treatment for diabetic retinopathy is only necessary if screening detects significant problems that mean your vision is at risk.

If the condition has not reached this stage, the above advice on managing your diabetes is recommended. Read more about the treatment of diabetic retinopathy. Page last reviewed: 16 December Next review due: 16 December Home Health A to Z Back to Health A to Z. Overview - Diabetic retinopathy Contents Overview Stages Treatment Prevention.

To minimise the risk of this happening, people with diabetes should: ensure they control their blood sugar levels, blood pressure and cholesterol attend diabetic eye screening appointments — screening is offered to all people with diabetes aged 12 and over to pick up and treat any problems early on How diabetes can affect the eyes The retina is the light-sensitive layer of cells at the back of the eye that converts light into electrical signals.

Over time, a persistently high blood sugar level can damage these blood vessels in 3 main stages: background retinopathy — tiny bulges develop in the blood vessels, which may bleed slightly but do not usually affect your vision pre-proliferative retinopathy — more severe and widespread changes affect the blood vessels, including more significant bleeding into the eye proliferative retinopathy — scar tissue and new blood vessels, which are weak and bleed easily, develop on the retina; this can result in some loss of vision However, if a problem with your eyes is picked up early, lifestyle changes and treatment can stop it getting worse.

Am I at risk of diabetic retinopathy? You're at a greater risk if you: have had diabetes for a long time have a persistently high blood sugar blood glucose level have high blood pressure have high cholesterol are pregnant are of Asian or Afro-Caribbean background By keeping your blood sugar, blood pressure and cholesterol levels under control, you can reduce your chances of developing diabetic retinopathy.

Symptoms of diabetic retinopathy You will not usually notice diabetic retinopathy in the early stages, as it does not tend to have any obvious symptoms until it's more advanced.

Diabetes damages blood vessels all over the body. The damage to your eyes starts when sugar blocks the tiny blood vessels that go to your retina, causing them to leak fluid or bleed.

These new blood vessels can leak or bleed easily. Eye doctors can check for diabetic retinopathy as part of a dilated eye exam. The exam is simple and painless — your doctor will give you some eye drops to dilate widen your pupil and then check your eyes for diabetic retinopathy and other eye problems.

If you do develop diabetic retinopathy, early treatment can stop the damage and prevent blindness. If your eye doctor thinks you may have severe diabetic retinopathy or DME, they may do a test called a fluorescein angiogram. This test lets the doctor see pictures of the blood vessels in your retina.

Managing your diabetes is the best way to lower your risk of diabetic retinopathy. That means keeping your blood sugar levels in a healthy range. This test shows your average blood sugar level over the past 3 months. You can work with your doctor to set a personal A1C goal. Meeting your A1C goal can help prevent or manage diabetic retinopathy.

Having high blood pressure or high cholesterol along with diabetes increases your risk for diabetic retinopathy. So controlling your blood pressure and cholesterol can also help lower your risk for vision loss. In the early stages of diabetic retinopathy, your eye doctor will probably just keep track of how your eyes are doing.

Some people with diabetic retinopathy may need a comprehensive dilated eye exam as often as every 2 to 4 months. Medicines called anti-VEGF drugs can slow down or reverse diabetic retinopathy.

Other medicines, called corticosteroids, can also help. Learn more about injections. Laser treatment. To reduce swelling in your retina, eye doctors can use lasers to make the blood vessels shrink and stop leaking.

Learn more about laser treatment for diabetic retinopathy. Eye surgery. If your retina is bleeding a lot or you have a lot of scars in your eye, your eye doctor may recommend a type of surgery called a vitrectomy. Learn more about vitrectomy. Scientists are studying better ways to find, treat, and prevent vision loss in people with diabetes.

One NIH-funded research team is studying whether a cholesterol medicine called fenofibrate can stop diabetic retinopathy from getting worse. Last updated: November 15, National Eye Institute Research Today… Vision Tomorrow. English Español. Search the site. Learn About Eye Health Healthy Vision Eye Conditions and Diseases Eye Health Data and Statistics Campaigns Vision Rehabilitation NEI for Kids Outreach Resources Grants and Training How to Apply Funding Opportunities Training at NEI Funding for Training and Career Development Policies and Procedures Prior Approval Requests Resources for Researchers Contact Grants and Funding Staff Research at NEI Clinical Trials Research Labs and Branches Jobs and Training Opportunities at NEI NEI Research Seminars About NEI Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility at NEI Strategic Planning News and Events Goals and Accomplishments NEI History NEI Leadership Budget and Congress Advisory Committees National Eye Health Education Program Donate to NEI.

Home Learn About Eye Health Eye Conditions and Diseases Diabetic Retinopathy. Print this Page. Diabetic Retinopathy.

On this page:. At a glance: Diabetic Retinopathy Early Symptoms: None. Later Symptoms: Blurry vision, floating spots in your vision, blindness. Diagnosis: Dilated eye exam.

Treatment: Injections , laser treatment, surgery. What is diabetic retinopathy? Other types of diabetic eye disease Diabetic retinopathy is the most common cause of vision loss for people with diabetes. But diabetes can also make you more likely to develop several other eye conditions: Cataracts.

Having diabetes makes you 2 to 5 times more likely to develop cataracts. It also makes you more likely to get them at a younger age. Learn more about cataracts.

Eye surgery. If your retina is bleeding a lot or you have a lot of scars in your eye, your eye doctor may recommend a type of surgery called a vitrectomy. Learn more about vitrectomy. Scientists are studying better ways to find, treat, and prevent vision loss in people with diabetes. One NIH-funded research team is studying whether a cholesterol medicine called fenofibrate can stop diabetic retinopathy from getting worse.

Last updated: November 15, National Eye Institute Research Today… Vision Tomorrow. English Español. Search the site. Learn About Eye Health Healthy Vision Eye Conditions and Diseases Eye Health Data and Statistics Campaigns Vision Rehabilitation NEI for Kids Outreach Resources Grants and Training How to Apply Funding Opportunities Training at NEI Funding for Training and Career Development Policies and Procedures Prior Approval Requests Resources for Researchers Contact Grants and Funding Staff Research at NEI Clinical Trials Research Labs and Branches Jobs and Training Opportunities at NEI NEI Research Seminars About NEI Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility at NEI Strategic Planning News and Events Goals and Accomplishments NEI History NEI Leadership Budget and Congress Advisory Committees National Eye Health Education Program Donate to NEI.

Home Learn About Eye Health Eye Conditions and Diseases Diabetic Retinopathy. Print this Page. Diabetic Retinopathy. On this page:. At a glance: Diabetic Retinopathy Early Symptoms: None. Later Symptoms: Blurry vision, floating spots in your vision, blindness. Diagnosis: Dilated eye exam.

Treatment: Injections , laser treatment, surgery. What is diabetic retinopathy? Other types of diabetic eye disease Diabetic retinopathy is the most common cause of vision loss for people with diabetes.

But diabetes can also make you more likely to develop several other eye conditions: Cataracts. Having diabetes makes you 2 to 5 times more likely to develop cataracts. It also makes you more likely to get them at a younger age.

Learn more about cataracts. Open-angle glaucoma. Having diabetes nearly doubles your risk of developing a type of glaucoma called open-angle glaucoma. Learn more about glaucoma. What are the symptoms of diabetic retinopathy?

What other problems can diabetic retinopathy cause? Diabetic retinopathy can lead to other serious eye conditions: Diabetic macular edema DME. Over time, about 1 in 15 people with diabetes will develop DME.

DME happens when blood vessels in the retina leak fluid into the macula a part of the retina needed for sharp, central vision. This causes blurry vision. Neovascular glaucoma. Diabetic retinopathy can cause abnormal blood vessels to grow out of the retina and block fluid from draining out of the eye.

This causes a type of glaucoma a group of eye diseases that can cause vision loss and blindness. Learn more about types of glaucoma. Retinal detachment. Diabetic retinopathy can cause scars to form in the back of your eye. Learn more about types of retinal detachment.

Am I at risk for diabetic retinopathy? What causes diabetic retinopathy? How will my eye doctor check for diabetic retinopathy? Learn what to expect from a dilated eye exam. What can I do to prevent diabetic retinopathy? Learn more about the A1c test. What is the latest research on diabetic retinopathy and DME?

It can cause blindness if left undiagnosed and untreated. However, it usually takes several years for diabetic retinopathy to reach a stage where it could threaten your sight. The retina is the light-sensitive layer of cells at the back of the eye that converts light into electrical signals.

The signals are sent to the brain which turns them into the images you see. The retina needs a constant supply of blood, which it receives through a network of tiny blood vessels. Over time, a persistently high blood sugar level can damage these blood vessels in 3 main stages:.

However, if a problem with your eyes is picked up early, lifestyle changes and treatment can stop it getting worse.

Read about the stages of diabetic retinopathy. Anyone with type 1 diabetes or type 2 diabetes is potentially at risk of developing diabetic retinopathy. By keeping your blood sugar, blood pressure and cholesterol levels under control, you can reduce your chances of developing diabetic retinopathy.

You will not usually notice diabetic retinopathy in the early stages, as it does not tend to have any obvious symptoms until it's more advanced. However, early signs of the condition can be picked up by taking photographs of the eyes during diabetic eye screening. These symptoms do not necessarily mean you have diabetic retinopathy, but it's important to get them checked out.

Everyone with diabetes who is 12 years old or over is invited for eye screening. How often you're invited depends on your last 2 screening results. If diabetic retinopathy was not found at your last 2 tests, you'll be invited every 2 years. The screening test involves examining the back of the eyes and taking photographs.

Depending on your result, you may be advised to attend more regular appointments or discuss treatment options with a specialist. Read more about diabetic eye screening. You can reduce your risk of developing diabetic retinopathy, or help prevent it getting worse, by:.

You can't always prevent diabetic retinopathy. However, regular eye exams, good control of your blood sugar and blood pressure, and early intervention for vision problems can help prevent severe vision loss.

Remember, diabetes doesn't necessarily lead to vision loss. Taking an active role in diabetes management can go a long way toward preventing complications. On this page. Risk factors.

A Book: Mayo Clinic Guide to Better Vision. A Book: The Essential Diabetes Book. As the condition progresses, you might develop: Spots or dark strings floating in your vision floaters Blurred vision Fluctuating vision Dark or empty areas in your vision Vision loss. When to see an eye doctor Careful management of your diabetes is the best way to prevent vision loss.

More Information. Screening for diabetic macular edema: How often? Spotting symptoms of diabetic macular edema.

Request an appointment. There are two types of diabetic retinopathy: Early diabetic retinopathy. Diabetic retinopathy. Reducing your risks of diabetic macular edema.

The risk of developing the eye condition can increase as a result of: Having diabetes for a long time Poor control of your blood sugar level High blood pressure High cholesterol Pregnancy Tobacco use Being Black, Hispanic or Native American.

Complications can lead to serious vision problems: Vitreous hemorrhage. Retinal detachment. The abnormal blood vessels associated with diabetic retinopathy stimulate the growth of scar tissue, which can pull the retina away from the back of the eye.

This can cause spots floating in your vision, flashes of light or severe vision loss. New blood vessels can grow in the front part of your eye iris and interfere with the normal flow of fluid out of the eye, causing pressure in the eye to build.

This pressure can damage the nerve that carries images from your eye to your brain optic nerve. Diabetic retinopathy, macular edema, glaucoma or a combination of these conditions can lead to complete vision loss, especially if the conditions are poorly managed. If you have diabetes, reduce your risk of getting diabetic retinopathy by doing the following: Manage your diabetes.

Make healthy eating and physical activity part of your daily routine. Try to get at least minutes of moderate aerobic activity, such as walking, each week. Take oral diabetes medications or insulin as directed.

Monitor your blood sugar level. You might need to check and record your blood sugar level several times a day — or more frequently if you're ill or under stress. Ask your doctor how often you need to test your blood sugar.

Ask your doctor about a glycosylated hemoglobin test. The glycosylated hemoglobin test, or hemoglobin A1C test, reflects your average blood sugar level for the two- to three-month period before the test. Keep your blood pressure and cholesterol under control.

Eating healthy foods, exercising regularly and losing excess weight can help. Sometimes medication is needed, too. If you smoke or use other types of tobacco, ask your doctor to help you quit.

Smoking increases your risk of various diabetes complications, including diabetic retinopathy. Pay attention to vision changes. Contact your eye doctor right away if your vision suddenly changes or becomes blurry, spotty or hazy.

Does keeping a proper blood sugar level prevent diabetic macular edema and other eye problems? By Mayo Clinic Staff. Feb 21, Show References.

National Eye Institute. Accessed Feb. Mayo Clinic, Fraser CE, et al. Diabetic retinopathy: Classification and clinical features. American Optometrics Association. Diabetic retinopathy: Prevention and treatment.

The diabetes advisor: Eye exams for people with diabetes. American Diabetes Association. Zhang HW, et al.

Single herbal medicine for diabetic retinopathy review. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. Nair AA, et al. Spotlight on faricimab in the treatment of wet age-related macular degeneration: Design, development and place in therapy.

Drug Design, Development and Therapy. Chodnicki KD expert opinion. Mayo Clinic. News from Mayo Clinic. Diabetes and your eyes. Can medicine help prevent diabetic macular edema? Diabetic macular edema. Show more related content. What is diabetic macular edema?

Show the heart some love! Give Today. Help us advance cardiovascular medicine. Find a doctor. A full, dilated eye exam helps your doctor find and treat eye problems early—often before much vision loss can occur. In the short term, you are not likely to have vision loss from high blood glucose.

High glucose can change fluid levels or cause swelling in the tissues of your eyes that help you to focus, causing blurred vision. This type of blurry vision is temporary and goes away when your glucose level gets closer to normal. If your blood glucose stays high over time, it can damage the tiny blood vessels in the back of your eyes.

This damage can begin during prediabetes , when blood glucose is higher than normal, but not high enough for you to be diagnosed with diabetes.

Damaged blood vessels may leak fluid and cause swelling. New, weak blood vessels may also begin to grow. These blood vessels can bleed into the middle part of the eye, lead to scarring, or cause dangerously high pressure inside your eye.

Most serious diabetic eye diseases begin with blood vessel problems. The four eye diseases that can threaten your sight are.

The retina is the inner lining at the back of each eye. The retina senses light and turns it into signals that your brain decodes, so you can see the world around you. Damaged blood vessels can harm the retina, causing a disease called diabetic retinopathy.

In early diabetic retinopathy, blood vessels can weaken, bulge, or leak into the retina. This stage is called nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy. If the disease gets worse, some blood vessels close off, which causes new blood vessels to grow, or proliferate, on the surface of the retina.

This stage is called proliferative diabetic retinopathy. These abnormal new blood vessels can lead to serious vision problems.

The part of your retina that you need for reading, driving, and seeing faces is called the macula. Diabetes can lead to swelling in the macula, which is called diabetic macular edema. Over time, this disease can destroy the sharp vision in this part of the eye, leading to partial vision loss or blindness.

Macular edema usually develops in people who already have other signs of diabetic retinopathy. Glaucoma is a group of eye diseases that can damage the optic nerve—the bundle of nerves that connects the eye to the brain.

Diabetes doubles the chances of having glaucoma, which can lead to vision loss and blindness if not treated early. Symptoms depend on which type of glaucoma you have. Learn more about glaucoma. The lenses within our eyes are clear structures that help provide sharp vision—but they tend to become cloudy as we age.

People with diabetes are more likely to develop cloudy lenses, called cataracts. People with diabetes can develop cataracts at an earlier age than people without diabetes. Researchers think that high glucose levels cause deposits to build up in the lenses of your eyes.

About one in three people with diabetes who are older than age 40 already have some signs of diabetic retinopathy. Finding and treating diabetic retinopathy early can reduce the risk of blindness by 95 percent.

Your chances of developing glaucoma or cataracts are about twice that of someone without diabetes. Some groups are affected more than others.

If you have diabetes and become pregnant, you can develop eye problems very quickly during your pregnancy. If you already have some diabetic retinopathy, it can get worse during pregnancy.

Changes that help your body support a growing baby may put stress on the blood vessels in your eyes. Your health care team will suggest regular eye exams during pregnancy to catch and treat problems early and protect your vision.

Diabetes that occurs only during pregnancy, called gestational diabetes , does not usually cause eye problems. Researchers aren't sure why this is the case. Often there are no early symptoms of diabetic eye disease. You may have no pain and no change in your vision as damage begins to grow inside your eyes, particularly with diabetic retinopathy.

Call a doctor right away if you notice sudden changes to your vision, including flashes of light or many more spots floaters than usual. You also should see a doctor right away if it looks like a curtain is pulled over your eyes. These changes in your sight can be symptoms of a detached retina , which is a medical emergency.

Having a full, dilated eye exam is the best way to check for eye problems from diabetes. Your doctor will place drops in your eyes to widen your pupils.

This allows the doctor to examine a larger area at the back of each eye, using a special magnifying lens. Your vision will be blurry for a few hours after a dilated exam. Most people with diabetes should see an eye care professional once a year for a complete eye exam.

Your own health care team may suggest a different plan, based on your type of diabetes and the time since you were first diagnosed. Your doctor may recommend having eye exams more often than once a year, along with management of your diabetes.

This means managing your diabetes ABCs, which include your A1c, blood pressure, and cholesterol; and quitting smoking. Ask your health care team what you can do to reach your goals.