Diabetes can affect all the organs in your body including eyes. The most common and most serious eye complication of diabetes is diabetic retinopathy, which may result in poor vision or blindness.

The longer you have diabetes, the more likely it is you'll develop diabetic retinopathy. Initially, most people with diabetic retinopathy experience only mild vision problems. But the condition can worsen and threaten your vision. Retinopathy is the medical term for damage to the tiny blood vessels (capillaries) that nourish the retina, the tissue at the back of your eye that captures light and relays information to your brain. These blood vessels are often affected by the high blood sugar levels associated with diabetes.

The threat of blindness is scary. But with early detection and treatment, the risk of severe vision loss from diabetic retinopathy is small. You can take steps to protect your sight if you have diabetes.

Don't wait for symptoms. The disease can even progress to an advanced stage without any noticeable change in your vision.

Symptoms
Decrease in vision or blurred vision
"Spiders," "cobwebs" or tiny specks floating in your vision
Dark streaks or a red film that blocks vision
A dark or empty spot in the centre of your vision

Risk factors
Risk factors for diabetic retinopathy include:

Poorly controlled blood sugar levels
High blood pressure
High blood cholesterol
Pregnancy

"If I can see well, there's nothing wrong with my eyes." That's false confidence. If you have diabetes, you're at risk of diabetic retinopathy, even if you don't have any vision problems. Early detection of diabetic retinopathy is your best protection against vision loss. For this reason, regular eye examinations are essential.

Meet your retina specialist promptly if your vision becomes blurry, spotty or hazy. If diabetic retinopathy is found, the course of treatment depends on the severity of the condition and whether your vision is currently impaired or threatened by the retinal changes. If you have diabetes you should receive a comprehensive dilated eye exam at least once a year.

Treatment
If you have mild nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy, you may not require treatment right away. However, your eye doctor will want to closely monitor your retina. Proliferative diabetic retinopathy requires prompt surgical treatment.

The main treatments for diabetic retinopathy are
1. Laser Photocoagulation
2. Vitrectomy
3. Anti VEG-F therapy

In many cases, these treatments are effective and slow or stop the progression of the disease for some time. But they're not a cure.
The author is Vitreo Retinal Surgeon, Vasan Eye Care Hospital, Hubli and can be contacted at 0836-4251100, 4251200.