BACK TOTOP Browse A-ZSearchBrowse A-ZABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ0-9 E-mail FormEmail ResultsName:Email address:Recipients Name:Recipients address:Message: Print-FriendlyBookmarksbookmarks-menuDiabetes and eye diseaseRetinopathy - diabetic; Photocoagulation - retina; Diabetic retinopathyDiabetes can harm the eyes. It can damage the small blood vessels in the retina, the back part of your eye. This condition is called diabetic retinopathy.Diabetes also increases the chance of having glaucoma, cataracts, and other eye problems.DiabetesDiabetes is a long-term (chronic) disease in which the body cannot regulate the amount of sugar in the blood.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article GlaucomaGlaucoma is a group of eye conditions that can damage the optic nerve. This nerve sends the images you see to your brain. Most often, optic nerve da...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article CataractsA cataract is a clouding of the lens of the eye.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Related video goes here for no-HTML5 browsers Causes Diabetic retinopathy is caused by damage from diabetes to blood vessels of the retina. The retina is the layer of tissue at the back of the inner eye. It changes light and images that enter the eye into nerve signals, which are sent to the brain.Diabetic retinopathy is a leading cause of decreased vision or blindness in Americans ages 20 to 74 years. People with type 1 or type 2 diabetes are at risk for this condition. Some people who have type 2 diabetes that develops slowly already have eye damage when they are first diagnosed.Type 1Type 1 diabetes is a lifelong (chronic) disease in which there is a high level of sugar (glucose) in the blood.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Type 2 diabetesType 2 diabetes is a lifelong (chronic) disease in which there is a high level of sugar (glucose) in the blood. Type 2 diabetes is the most common f...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article No audio descriptionWith audio descriptionRelated video goes here for no-HTML5 browsersRelated video goes here for no-HTML5 browsersThe chance of developing retinopathy and having a more severe form is higher when:You have had diabetes for a long time. Your blood sugar (glucose) has been poorly controlled. You also smoke or you have high blood pressure or high cholesterol. If you already have damage to the blood vessels in your eye, some types of exercise can make the problem worse. Check with your health care provider before starting an exercise program.Other eye problems that can occur in people with diabetes include: Cataract -- Cloudiness of the eye lens. Glaucoma -- Increased pressure in the eye that can lead to blindness. Macular edema -- Blurry vision due to fluid leaking into the area of the retina that provides sharp central vision. Retinal detachment -- Scarring that may cause part of the retina to pull away from the back of your eyeball. Retinal detachmentRetinal detachment is a separation of the light-sensitive membrane (retina) in the back of the eye from its supporting layers.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article High blood sugar or rapid changes in blood sugar level often causes blurred vision that is usually brief and temporary. This is because the lens in the middle of the eye cannot change shape when it has too much sugar and water in the lens. This is not the same problem as diabetic retinopathy. Symptoms Most often, diabetic retinopathy has no symptoms until the damage to your eyes is severe. This is because damage to much of the retina can occur before your vision is affected.Symptoms of diabetic retinopathy include:Blurred vision and slow vision loss over time Floaters FloatersThe floating specks you sometimes see in front of your eyes are not on the surface of your eyes but inside them. They are made up of bits of cell de...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Shadows or missing areas of vision Trouble seeing at night Many people with early diabetic retinopathy have no symptoms before bleeding occurs in the eye. This is why everyone with diabetes should have regular eye exams. Exams and Tests Your eye doctor will examine your eyes. You may first be asked to read an eye chart. Then you will receive eye drops to widen the pupils of your eyes. Tests you may have involve:Measuring the fluid pressure inside your eyes (tonometry) TonometryTonometry is a test to measure the pressure inside your eyes. The test is used to screen for glaucoma. It is also used to measure how well glaucoma...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Checking the structures inside your eyes (slit lamp exam) Slit lamp examThe slit-lamp examination looks at structures that are at the front of the eye.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Checking and photographing your retinas (fluorescein angiography) Fluorescein angiographyFluorescein angiography is an eye test that uses a special dye and camera to look at blood flow in the retina and choroid. These are the two layers ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article If you have the early stage of diabetic retinopathy (nonproliferative), the eye doctor may see:Blood vessels in the eye that are larger in certain spots (called microaneurysms) Blood vessels that are blocked Small amounts of bleeding (retinal hemorrhages) and fluid leaking into the retina If you have advanced retinopathy (proliferative), the eye doctor may see:New blood vessels starting to grow in the eye that are weak and can bleed Small scars forming on the retina and in other parts of the eye (the vitreous) The eye exam for people with diabetes is different from going to the eye doctor (optometrist or ophthalmologist) to have your vision checked and to see whether you need new glasses. If you notice a change in vision and see an optometrist, make sure you tell the optometrist that you have diabetes. Treatment People with early diabetic retinopathy may not need treatment. But they should be closely followed by an eye doctor who is trained to diagnose and treat diabetic eye diseases.If your eye doctor notices new blood vessels growing in your retina (neovascularization) or you develop macular edema, treatment is usually needed.Eye surgery is the main treatment for diabetic retinopathy.Laser eye surgery creates small burns in the retina where there are abnormal blood vessels. This process is called photocoagulation. It is used to keep vessels from leaking, or to shrink abnormal vessels. Surgery called vitrectomy is used when there is bleeding (hemorrhage) into the eye. It may also be used to repair retinal detachment. Medicines that are injected into the eyeball may help prevent abnormal blood vessels from growing and improve macular edema. Follow your eye doctor's advice on how to protect your vision. Have eye exams as often as recommended, usually once every 1 to 2 years.Eye examsDiabetes can harm your eyes. It can damage the small blood vessels in your retina, the back wall of your eyeball. This condition is called diabetic...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article If you have diabetes and your blood sugar has been very high, your provider will adjust the medicines to lower your blood sugar level. If you have diabetic retinopathy, your vision can get worse for a short time when you begin taking medicine that quickly improves your blood sugar level. Support Groups More information and support for people with diabetes and their families can be found at:InformationThe following sites provide further information on diabetes:American Diabetes Association -- diabetes. orgCenters for Disease Control and Prevention ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article American Diabetes Association -- www.diabetes.org National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases -- www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/diabetes Prevent Blindness America -- www.preventblindness.org Outlook (Prognosis) Managing your diabetes may help slow diabetic retinopathy and other eye problems. Control your blood sugar (glucose) level by:Eating healthy foods Getting regular exercise Checking your blood sugar as often as instructed by your diabetes provider and keeping a record of your numbers so you know the types of foods and activities that affect your blood sugar level Taking medicine or insulin as instructed Treatments can reduce vision loss. They do not cure diabetic retinopathy or reverse the changes that have already occurred. Possible Complications Diabetic eye disease can lead to reduced vision and blindness. When to Contact a Medical Professional Contact an eye doctor (optometrist or ophthalmologist) if you have diabetes and you have not seen an optometrist or ophthalmologist in the past year.Contact your provider if any of the following symptoms are new or are becoming worse:You cannot see well in dim light. You have blind spots. You have double vision (you see two things when there is only one). Your vision is hazy or blurry and you cannot focus. You have pain in one of your eyes. You are having headaches. You see spots floating in your eyes. You cannot see things on the side of your field of vision. You see shadows. Prevention Good control of blood sugar, blood pressure, and cholesterol are very important for preventing diabetic retinopathy.Do not smoke. If you need help quitting, ask your provider.Help quittingThere are many ways to quit smoking. There are also resources to help you. Family members, friends, and co-workers may be supportive. But to be su...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Women with diabetes who become pregnant should have more frequent eye exams during pregnancy and for a year after delivery.Open ReferencesReferencesAmerican Diabetes Association Professional Practice Committee. 12. Retinopathy, neuropathy, and foot care: standards of care in diabetes-2025. Diabetes Care. 2025;48(Supplement_1):S252-S265. PMID: 39651973 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39651973/.Brownlee M, Aiello LP, Sun JK, et al. Complications of diabetes mellitus. In: Melmed S, Auchus RJ, Goldfine AB, Rosen CJ, Kopp PA, eds. Williams Textbook of Endocrinology. 15th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2025:chap 38.Silva PS, Salongcay RP. Diabetic retinopathy. In: Yanoff M, Duker JS, eds. Ophthalmology. 6th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 6.18.Skugor M. Diabetes mellitus. In: Sadda SVR, Sarraf D, Freund KB, et al, eds. Ryan's Retina. 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 48.AllVideoImagesTogSlit-lamp exam - illustration A slit-lamp, which is a specialized magnifying microscope, is used to examine the structures of the eye (including the cornea, iris, vitreous, and retina). The slit-lamp is used to examine, treat (with a laser), and photograph (with a camera) the eye.Slit-lamp examillustrationDiabetic retinopathy - illustration Diabetes causes an excessive amount of glucose to remain in the blood stream which may cause damage to the blood vessels. Within the eye the damaged vessels may leak blood and fluid into the surrounding tissues and cause vision problems. Diabetic retinopathyillustrationSlit-lamp exam - illustration A slit-lamp, which is a specialized magnifying microscope, is used to examine the structures of the eye (including the cornea, iris, vitreous, and retina). The slit-lamp is used to examine, treat (with a laser), and photograph (with a camera) the eye.Slit-lamp examillustrationDiabetic retinopathy - illustration Diabetes causes an excessive amount of glucose to remain in the blood stream which may cause damage to the blood vessels. Within the eye the damaged vessels may leak blood and fluid into the surrounding tissues and cause vision problems. Diabetic retinopathyillustrationA Closer Look Diabetes - type 2 - InDepth(In-Depth)Diabetes - type 1 - InDepth(In-Depth)Crohn disease(Alt. Medicine)Parkinson disease(Alt. Medicine)Talking to your MD Type 2 diabetes - what to ask your doctorSelf Care Diabetes eye careType 1 diabetes - self-careType 2 diabetes - self-careDiabetes and alcoholDiabetes tests and checkupsLong-term complications of diabetesDiabetes and exercise Diabetes - keeping active Tests for Diabetes and eye disease A1C testOrbit CT scanRelated Information Retina(Special Topic)Type 1 diabetes(Condition)Type 2 diabetes(Condition)Retinopathy of prematurity(Condition)Glaucoma(Condition)Retinal detachment(Condition)Blindness and vision loss(Symptoms)Type 2 diabetes - what to ask your doctor(Doctor Questions)Diabetes eye care(Self-Care)Diabetes tests and checkups(Self-Care)Diabetes - type 1 - InDepth(In-Depth)Diabetes - type 2 - InDepth(In-Depth)Glaucoma - InDepth(In-Depth) Review Date: 1/10/2025 Reviewed By: Sandeep K. Dhaliwal, MD, board-certified in Diabetes, Endocrinology, and Metabolism, Springfield, VA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team. The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. No warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied, is made as to the accuracy, reliability, timeliness, or correctness of any translations made by a third-party service of the information provided herein into any other language. © 1997- A.D.A.M., a business unit of Ebix, Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited. © 1997- All rights reserved. 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Diabetes and eye diseaseRetinopathy - diabetic; Photocoagulation - retina; Diabetic retinopathyDiabetes can harm the eyes. It can damage the small blood vessels in the retina, the back part of your eye. This condition is called diabetic retinopathy.Diabetes also increases the chance of having glaucoma, cataracts, and other eye problems.DiabetesDiabetes is a long-term (chronic) disease in which the body cannot regulate the amount of sugar in the blood.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article GlaucomaGlaucoma is a group of eye conditions that can damage the optic nerve. This nerve sends the images you see to your brain. Most often, optic nerve da...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article CataractsA cataract is a clouding of the lens of the eye.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Related video goes here for no-HTML5 browsers Causes Diabetic retinopathy is caused by damage from diabetes to blood vessels of the retina. The retina is the layer of tissue at the back of the inner eye. It changes light and images that enter the eye into nerve signals, which are sent to the brain.Diabetic retinopathy is a leading cause of decreased vision or blindness in Americans ages 20 to 74 years. People with type 1 or type 2 diabetes are at risk for this condition. Some people who have type 2 diabetes that develops slowly already have eye damage when they are first diagnosed.Type 1Type 1 diabetes is a lifelong (chronic) disease in which there is a high level of sugar (glucose) in the blood.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Type 2 diabetesType 2 diabetes is a lifelong (chronic) disease in which there is a high level of sugar (glucose) in the blood. Type 2 diabetes is the most common f...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article No audio descriptionWith audio descriptionRelated video goes here for no-HTML5 browsersRelated video goes here for no-HTML5 browsersThe chance of developing retinopathy and having a more severe form is higher when:You have had diabetes for a long time. Your blood sugar (glucose) has been poorly controlled. You also smoke or you have high blood pressure or high cholesterol. If you already have damage to the blood vessels in your eye, some types of exercise can make the problem worse. Check with your health care provider before starting an exercise program.Other eye problems that can occur in people with diabetes include: Cataract -- Cloudiness of the eye lens. Glaucoma -- Increased pressure in the eye that can lead to blindness. Macular edema -- Blurry vision due to fluid leaking into the area of the retina that provides sharp central vision. Retinal detachment -- Scarring that may cause part of the retina to pull away from the back of your eyeball. Retinal detachmentRetinal detachment is a separation of the light-sensitive membrane (retina) in the back of the eye from its supporting layers.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article High blood sugar or rapid changes in blood sugar level often causes blurred vision that is usually brief and temporary. This is because the lens in the middle of the eye cannot change shape when it has too much sugar and water in the lens. This is not the same problem as diabetic retinopathy. Symptoms Most often, diabetic retinopathy has no symptoms until the damage to your eyes is severe. This is because damage to much of the retina can occur before your vision is affected.Symptoms of diabetic retinopathy include:Blurred vision and slow vision loss over time Floaters FloatersThe floating specks you sometimes see in front of your eyes are not on the surface of your eyes but inside them. They are made up of bits of cell de...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Shadows or missing areas of vision Trouble seeing at night Many people with early diabetic retinopathy have no symptoms before bleeding occurs in the eye. This is why everyone with diabetes should have regular eye exams. Exams and Tests Your eye doctor will examine your eyes. You may first be asked to read an eye chart. Then you will receive eye drops to widen the pupils of your eyes. Tests you may have involve:Measuring the fluid pressure inside your eyes (tonometry) TonometryTonometry is a test to measure the pressure inside your eyes. The test is used to screen for glaucoma. It is also used to measure how well glaucoma...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Checking the structures inside your eyes (slit lamp exam) Slit lamp examThe slit-lamp examination looks at structures that are at the front of the eye.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Checking and photographing your retinas (fluorescein angiography) Fluorescein angiographyFluorescein angiography is an eye test that uses a special dye and camera to look at blood flow in the retina and choroid. These are the two layers ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article If you have the early stage of diabetic retinopathy (nonproliferative), the eye doctor may see:Blood vessels in the eye that are larger in certain spots (called microaneurysms) Blood vessels that are blocked Small amounts of bleeding (retinal hemorrhages) and fluid leaking into the retina If you have advanced retinopathy (proliferative), the eye doctor may see:New blood vessels starting to grow in the eye that are weak and can bleed Small scars forming on the retina and in other parts of the eye (the vitreous) The eye exam for people with diabetes is different from going to the eye doctor (optometrist or ophthalmologist) to have your vision checked and to see whether you need new glasses. If you notice a change in vision and see an optometrist, make sure you tell the optometrist that you have diabetes. Treatment People with early diabetic retinopathy may not need treatment. But they should be closely followed by an eye doctor who is trained to diagnose and treat diabetic eye diseases.If your eye doctor notices new blood vessels growing in your retina (neovascularization) or you develop macular edema, treatment is usually needed.Eye surgery is the main treatment for diabetic retinopathy.Laser eye surgery creates small burns in the retina where there are abnormal blood vessels. This process is called photocoagulation. It is used to keep vessels from leaking, or to shrink abnormal vessels. Surgery called vitrectomy is used when there is bleeding (hemorrhage) into the eye. It may also be used to repair retinal detachment. Medicines that are injected into the eyeball may help prevent abnormal blood vessels from growing and improve macular edema. Follow your eye doctor's advice on how to protect your vision. Have eye exams as often as recommended, usually once every 1 to 2 years.Eye examsDiabetes can harm your eyes. It can damage the small blood vessels in your retina, the back wall of your eyeball. This condition is called diabetic...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article If you have diabetes and your blood sugar has been very high, your provider will adjust the medicines to lower your blood sugar level. If you have diabetic retinopathy, your vision can get worse for a short time when you begin taking medicine that quickly improves your blood sugar level. Support Groups More information and support for people with diabetes and their families can be found at:InformationThe following sites provide further information on diabetes:American Diabetes Association -- diabetes. orgCenters for Disease Control and Prevention ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article American Diabetes Association -- www.diabetes.org National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases -- www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/diabetes Prevent Blindness America -- www.preventblindness.org Outlook (Prognosis) Managing your diabetes may help slow diabetic retinopathy and other eye problems. Control your blood sugar (glucose) level by:Eating healthy foods Getting regular exercise Checking your blood sugar as often as instructed by your diabetes provider and keeping a record of your numbers so you know the types of foods and activities that affect your blood sugar level Taking medicine or insulin as instructed Treatments can reduce vision loss. They do not cure diabetic retinopathy or reverse the changes that have already occurred. Possible Complications Diabetic eye disease can lead to reduced vision and blindness. When to Contact a Medical Professional Contact an eye doctor (optometrist or ophthalmologist) if you have diabetes and you have not seen an optometrist or ophthalmologist in the past year.Contact your provider if any of the following symptoms are new or are becoming worse:You cannot see well in dim light. You have blind spots. You have double vision (you see two things when there is only one). Your vision is hazy or blurry and you cannot focus. You have pain in one of your eyes. You are having headaches. You see spots floating in your eyes. You cannot see things on the side of your field of vision. You see shadows. Prevention Good control of blood sugar, blood pressure, and cholesterol are very important for preventing diabetic retinopathy.Do not smoke. If you need help quitting, ask your provider.Help quittingThere are many ways to quit smoking. There are also resources to help you. Family members, friends, and co-workers may be supportive. But to be su...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Women with diabetes who become pregnant should have more frequent eye exams during pregnancy and for a year after delivery.Open ReferencesReferencesAmerican Diabetes Association Professional Practice Committee. 12. Retinopathy, neuropathy, and foot care: standards of care in diabetes-2025. Diabetes Care. 2025;48(Supplement_1):S252-S265. PMID: 39651973 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39651973/.Brownlee M, Aiello LP, Sun JK, et al. Complications of diabetes mellitus. In: Melmed S, Auchus RJ, Goldfine AB, Rosen CJ, Kopp PA, eds. Williams Textbook of Endocrinology. 15th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2025:chap 38.Silva PS, Salongcay RP. Diabetic retinopathy. In: Yanoff M, Duker JS, eds. Ophthalmology. 6th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 6.18.Skugor M. Diabetes mellitus. In: Sadda SVR, Sarraf D, Freund KB, et al, eds. Ryan's Retina. 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 48.
