Complications of Diabetic Retinopathy

Retina problems can eventually cause blindness, and have made diabetes one of the most common causes of blindness. Vision loss from diabetes usually occurs after many years of diabetes, but can occur in younger people, making diabetes the leading cause of blindness in the age group 20-74. However, recent advances in treating retinopathy, combined with early detection via regular checkups, can make losing sight much less likely.

Here is a more technical detailed analysis of what causes retinopathy complications. Retinopathy occurs gradually due to damage to the blood vessels in the eye's retina. The earlier "non-proliferative" stages of retinopathy occur when the blood vessels get slightly damaged, and become weakened. Gradually the blood vessels become more damaged, leading to blockages, reduced blood supply to some areas, and small clots (aneurysms). Eventually the blood vessels become so damaged that the eye tries to grow new blood vessels to compensate, causing a "proliferation" of new growth, which unfortunately creates more damage. This new growth creates scar tissue and other damage, which can actually cause contraction and changes to the shape of the retina, which can eventually pull the retina away from the back of the eye, leading to retinal detachment.

About complications: Complications of Diabetic Retinopathy are secondary conditions, symptoms, or other disorders that are caused by Diabetic Retinopathy. In many cases the distinction between symptoms of Diabetic Retinopathy and complications of Diabetic Retinopathy is unclear or arbitrary.

Complications list for Diabetic Retinopathy: The list of complications that have been mentioned in various sources for Diabetic Retinopathy includes:

Blurred vision
Permanent blurred vision (see Blurred vision)
Low vision (see Vision loss)
Visual impairment
Partial blindness
Permanent blindness

Complications of Diabetic Retinopathy: Diabetic retinopathy causes from 12,000 to 24,000 new cases of blindness each year. ¹

Complication statistics for Diabetic Retinopathy: The following are statistics from various sources about the complications of Diabetic Retinopathy:

Diabetes causes 8,000 new cases of blindness in the US (Research to Prevent Blindness, NISE, NSF)

Footnotes:
1. excerpt from Diabetes Statistics in the United States: NIDDK

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