damaged or clogged. In some people with diabetic retinopathy, retinal blood vessels may swell and leak fluid.
In other people, abnormal new blood vessels grow on the surface of the retina. But the new ones are weak and prone to break and leak blood into your eye causing you to see spots or “floaters.” As the vessels break, scar tissue builds up, pulling the retina away from the wall of the eye. This is what causes blindness.
What are the risk factors?
If you have type 1 or type 2 diabetes, you are at risk for developing diabetic retinopathy. The longer you have diabetes, the more likely you will develop retinopathy, particularly if the diabetes is poorly controlled. Also, medical conditions such as high blood pressure and high cholesterol increase the risk of developing retinopathy.
Pregnant women face a higher risk of developing diabetes and