Diabetic retinopathy occurs when blood vessels in the retina are damaged from elevated blood sugar in diabetes. Vascular damage causes fluid leakage or closure of small blood vessels. In other cases, abnormal blood vessels grow on the surface of the retina.
People who have diabetic retinopathy often don’t notice changes in their vision in the disease’s early stages. But as it progresses, diabetic retinopathy usually causes vision loss that in many cases cannot be reversed.
There are two types of diabetic retinopathy:
Nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR) is the earliest stage of diabetic retinopathy. With this condition, damaged blood vessels in the retina begin to leak extra fluid and small amounts of blood into the eye. Sometimes, deposits of cholesterol or other fats from the blood may leak into the retina.
NPDR can cause:
Proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) mainly occurs when many of the blood vessels in the retina close, preventing adequate blood flow (retinal ischemia). In an attempt to supply blood to the area where the original vessels closed, the retina responds by growing new blood vessels. This is called neovascularization. However, these new blood vessels are abnormal and do not supply the retina with proper blood flow.
PDR may cause more severe vision loss than NPDR because it can affect both central and peripheral vision.
PDR can cause:
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