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Diabetic retinopathy does not usually have any symptoms at first. It's usually found when you go to your diabetic eye screening appointments.
In the later stages, symptoms can include:
The symptoms may gradually get worse over time. It can eventually lead to sight loss.
Symptoms can affect one or both eyes.
You have diabetes and problems with your eyes or vision, such as:
These symptoms do not always mean you have diabetic retinopathy, but it's important to get them checked.
You have diabetes and:
You can call 111 or get help from 111 online.
Diabetic retinopathy is usually found during a diabetic eye screening appointment, which involves taking photographs of the back of your eye.
If you have diabetes and you're aged 12 or over, you'll be invited for diabetic eye screening every 1 or 2 years.
You'll also need to have regular eye tests at an opticians, to check for other eye problems that can be linked to diabetes such as glaucoma.
If you think you're due for diabetic eye screening and you have not had an invitation letter in the post, contact your GP surgery or your local eye screening service.
Diabetic retinopathy develops in 3 stages. It usually gets worse gradually, over several years. Treatment can help stop it from progressing to the next stage.
| Stage | What it means |
|---|---|
|
Stage
Background diabetic retinopathy |
What it means
There are some signs of damage to blood vessels in your eye but your vision is not affected |
|
Stage
Pre-proliferative diabetic retinopathy |
What it means
There are more signs of damage to blood vessels in your eye, and there's a risk that your vision will be affected in the future. You will not need treatment yet but you'll be offered more frequent screening |
|
Stage
Proliferative diabetic retinopathy |
What it means
There are more serious changes to blood vessels in your eye that could affect your vision or cause sight loss. You'll need to see a specialist for treatment |
There is also a type of diabetic retinopathy called diabetic maculopathy. In the early stages it has no symptoms and does not affect your vision.
In a very small number of people it progresses to an advanced stage and affects the central part of your vision. This means you may be able to see around the edges of your vision, but not be able to read clearly.
It's not possible to cure sight loss caused by diabetic retinopathy. The aim of treatment is to help stop your vision from getting worse.
If you're diagnosed with diabetic retinopathy it's important to manage your diabetes well to help stop it getting worse.
If you have background or pre-proliferative diabetic retinopathy, you will not need treatment. You'll be monitored at your regular eye screening appointments.
If you have proliferative diabetic retinopathy, you'll be referred to an eye specialist for treatment.
The main treatments are:
Your specialist will advise on what treatment is best for you. They'll explain the risks and benefits of the procedure, and what will happen.
Diabetic retinopathy happens when high blood glucose (sugar) damages the blood vessels in your retina, which is at the back of your eye.
It's more likely to happen if you've had diabetes for a long time, and if you have high blood pressure or high cholesterol.
If you have diabetes, you can reduce the risk of diabetic retinopathy by:
It's important to go to all of your diabetic eye screening appointments, as these can help find and treat any problems as soon as possible.
If diabetic retinopathy affects your vision it can be difficult to live with, both practically and emotionally.
As well as support from your diabetes team, you may find it helpful to get support from other people with diabetes or sight loss, either at a local support group or online.
There are also national charities that can offer support and information about diabetic retinopathy or sight loss.
Information and support for anyone with diabetes.
Information and support for blind and partially sighted people, their families and carers.
