Causes of Diabetic Retinopathy

Cause of Diabetic Retinopathy: Diabetic sugar levels damage eye blood vessels.

Cause details for Diabetic Retinopathy: As diabetes retina problems get worse, new blood vessels grow. These new blood vessels are weak. They break easily and leak blood into the vitreous of your eye. The leaking blood keeps light from reaching the retina.

You may see floating spots or almost total darkness. Sometimes the blood will clear out by itself. But you might need surgery to remove it.

Over the years, the swollen and weak blood vessels can form scar tissue and pull the retina away from the back of the eye. If the retina becomes detached, you may see floating spots or flashing lights.

You may feel as if a curtain has been pulled over part of what you are looking at. A detached retina can cause loss of sight or blindness if you don't take care of it right away.¹

It is caused by changes in the blood vessels of the retina. 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. These changes may result in vision loss or blindness.²

Underlying condition causes of Diabetic Retinopathy: The list of possible underlying conditions (see also Misdiagnosis of underlying causes of Diabetic Retinopathy) mentioned in various sources as possible causes of Diabetic Retinopathy includes:

Diabetes
Type 1 Diabetes
Type 2 Diabetes
High cholesterol - cholesterol can exacerbate retinopathy and further damage in the small blood vessels of the eye, just as cholesterol can cause hardening of larger artery blood vessels.
Pregnancy - can exacerbate existing retinopathy though probably not cause it directly.
Excessive alcohol - alcohol if used to extreme, reduces Vitamin B12 and thiamine levels. It is unclear what effect moderate alcohol has on retinopathy.

Diabetic Retinopathy as a complication: Other conditions that might have Diabetic Retinopathy as a complication might be potential underlying causes of Diabetic Retinopathy. The list of conditions listing Diabetic Retinopathy as a complication in our database includes:

Related information for causes of Diabetic Retinopathy: Further relevant information on causes of Diabetic Retinopathy may be found in the risk factors for Diabetic Retinopathy and underlying causes of Diabetic Retinopathy.

Footnotes:
1. excerpt from Keep your eyes healthy: NIDDK
2. excerpt from Are You at Risk for Diabetic Eye Disease: NEI

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