Diabetic Retinopathy
Diabetes is a disease that occurs when the pancreas does not produce enough insulin or the body is not able to utilise it properly.
Diabetics are more likely to develop eye problems such as cataracts and glaucoma but they are at an especially high risk to develop Diabetic Retinopathy. In this eye disease, the retina and it's blood vessels are affected. In the early phase of the disease - called background diabetic retinopathy- the blood vessels become weakened, break and leak. Small, dot-like haemorrhages are formed which cause a decreased vision.
At a later stage - known as proliferative diabetic retinopathy - new, fragile arteries begin to grow as the eye tries to maintain the blood and oxygen system. These delicate arteries tend to haemorrhage (bleed) easily and blood leaks into the vitreous humour causing further decline in vision. During the last stages, the abnormal blood vessel growth may cause serious problems such as glaucoma or the detachment of the retina.
