I have diabetes – should I be concerned about my sight?

Diabetic retinopathy is a sight-threatening eye problem that people with diabetes may develop. The disease damages blood vessels in the retina, the tissue at the back of the eye that translates light into electrical impulses. The brain then interprets these electrical impulses as vision. Many people with diabetic retinopathy have no early symptoms such as pain, inflammation, or blurred vision. In fact, many do not encounter any visual impairment until the disease has advanced. At this point, the vision that has been lost cannot be restored.
Only early detection, timely treatment, and regular monitoring can reduce your risk of severe vision loss or blindness from diabetic eye disease. I recommend you have a complete eye exam to detect these problems before they impair your vision, and let me know about any vision or eye health matters that concern you.