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Symptoms
By Mayo Clinic staffIt's possible to have diabetic retinopathy and not know it. In fact, it's uncommon to have symptoms in the early stages of diabetic retinopathy.
As the condition progresses, diabetic retinopathy symptoms may include:
- Spots or dark strings floating in your vision (floaters)
- Blurred vision
- Fluctuating vision
- Dark or empty areas in your vision
- Poor night vision
- Impaired color vision
- Vision loss
Diabetic retinopathy usually affects both eyes.
When to see a doctor
Careful management of your diabetes is the best way to prevent vision loss. If you have diabetes, see your eye doctor for a yearly dilated eye exam — even if your vision seems fine — because it's important to detect diabetic retinopathy in the early stages. If you become pregnant, your eye doctor may recommend additional eye exams throughout your pregnancy, because pregnancy can sometimes worsen diabetic retinopathy.
Contact your eye doctor right away if you experience sudden vision changes or your vision becomes blurry, spotty or hazy.
- Preferred practice pattern: Diabetic retinopathy. American Academy of Ophthalmology. http://one.aao.org/CE/PracticeGuidelines/PPP_Content.aspx?cid=d0c853d3-219f-487b-a524-326ab3cecd9a. Accessed Dec. 14, 2009.
- Standards of medical care in diabetes, 2009. American Diabetes Association. Diabetes Care. 2009;32(suppl):13.
- Diabetic retinopathy. National Eye Institute. http://www.nei.nih.gov/health/diabetic/retinopathy.asp. Accessed Dec. 15, 2009.
- Diabetic retinopathy. American Optometric Association. http://www.aoa.org/diabetic-retinopathy.xml. Accessed Dec. 15, 2009.
- Fraser CE, et al. Prevention and treatment of diabetic retinopathy. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Dec. 14, 2009.
- Retinal detachment. National Eye Institute. http://www.nei.nih.gov/health/retinaldetach/retinaldetach.asp. Accessed Dec. 21, 2009.
- Robertson DM (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Jan. 1, 2010.
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