Symptoms of Diabetic Retinopathy
Diabetic retinopathy often has no symptoms in its early stages. Learn the signs to look out for as it progresses and why regular eye checks matter.
Diabetic retinopathy is a complication of diabetes that affects the blood vessels in the retina of the eye. In the early stages, diabetic retinopathy may not have any noticeable symptoms, but as it progresses, it can cause several symptoms, including:
- Blurred vision: You may experience blurred or fluctuating vision, which can make it difficult to focus or read.
- Floaters: You may see small specks or spots floating in your field of vision.
- Dark or empty spots: You may experience dark or empty spots in your vision, which can indicate areas of retinal damage.
- Difficulty seeing at night: You may find it harder to see in low light conditions or at night.
- Color vision problems: You may have difficulty distinguishing colors or seeing colors as vividly as you once did.
- Vision loss: In severe cases, diabetic retinopathy can cause partial or complete vision loss.
If you have diabetes, it is important to have regular eye exams to detect diabetic retinopathy early, before it causes significant damage to your vision.