Eye conditions
What is diabetic retinopathy?
Diabetic retinopathy is a complication of diabetes. It happens when high blood sugar levels damage the blood vessels in the retina, the light-sensitive layer at the back of your eye.
Your retina turns light into signals that your brain turns into the images you see. To work properly, it needs a constant supply of blood through a network of tiny blood vessels. Over time, consistently high blood sugar can damage these vessels, causing them to leak, become blocked or grow abnormally.
In the early stages there are usually no symptoms, but left undiagnosed and untreated, diabetic retinopathy can lead to sight loss and blindness. That’s why regular eye checks are so important if you have diabetes: they can pick up changes long before you notice them.
Know the signs
Symptoms, causes and risk factors
Symptoms
- Often no symptoms in the early stages
- Floaters: spots, dark strings or streaks that look like cobwebs
- Blurred vision, or vision that changes from day to day
- Dark or empty areas in your vision
- Loss of vision
Causes
Consistently high blood sugar damages the tiny blood vessels in the retina, causing:
- Leaks: weakened vessels leak fluid or blood into the retina
- Blockages: vessels become blocked, cutting off blood supply
- Abnormal new vessels: weak new vessels grow and bleed easily
- Bleeding into the eye: blood leaks into the gel that fills the eye, causing floaters
Risk factors
Anyone with type 1 or type 2 diabetes is at risk. You’re at greater risk if you:
- Have had diabetes for a long time
- Have consistently high blood sugar
- Have high blood pressure or high cholesterol
- Are pregnant
- Smoke
- Are of Asian or African-Caribbean background
How it develops
Stages of diabetic retinopathy
Diabetic retinopathy develops in stages. Regular screening can spot the early stages, before your sight is affected.
Background retinopathy
Tiny bulges form in the blood vessels. They may bleed slightly but don't usually affect your vision.
Pre-proliferative retinopathy
More severe and widespread changes to the blood vessels, including more bleeding into the eye.
Proliferative retinopathy
Scar tissue and weak new blood vessels form on the retina. They bleed easily and can cause some loss of vision.
Diabetic maculopathy
The blood vessels in the macula, the centre of the retina, become leaky or blocked. This can affect your central vision.
Diabetic retinopathy can also lead to:
- Diabetic macular oedema (DMO): fluid leaks into the macula, causing blurred vision.
- Neovascular glaucoma: abnormal blood vessels grow and block fluid draining out of the eye.
- Retinal detachment: scar tissue pulls the retina away from the back of the eye (tractional retinal detachment).
Look after your eyes
Reducing your risk
Good diabetes management is the most effective way to lower your risk of diabetic retinopathy, or stop it getting worse:
- Keep your blood sugar, blood pressure and cholesterol under control.
- Take your diabetes medicine as prescribed.
- Keep to a healthy weight, eat a balanced diet, exercise regularly and stop smoking.
- Go to every diabetic eye screening appointment, and have a regular eye examination too.
- Get medical advice quickly if you notice any changes to your vision.
Protecting your sight
Screening and treatment
Everyone with diabetes aged 12 and over is offered regular diabetic eye screening. It picks up early signs of diabetic retinopathy before you notice any symptoms, so it can be monitored and treated in time.
Diabetic eye screening: what to expect
Your invitation
If you have diabetes and are 12 or over, you'll be invited for screening every 1 or 2 years.
Eye drops
Drops are put in your eyes to widen your pupils, so the back of your eye can be seen clearly.
Photos of your retina
Photos are taken of the back of your eyes. It's quick and nothing touches your eyes.
Expert review
The photos are sent to a specialist, who checks them for signs of diabetic retinopathy.
Arrange a lift
The drops can make your vision blurry for a few hours, so you won't be able to drive afterwards.
Diabetic eye screening at Opticare
We offer diabetic eye screening at our Newark practice. If you or your child have diabetes and you’re worried about how it could affect your eyes, book in with us.
As well as screening, we recommend an eye examination every year if you have diabetes, even if your vision seems fine. Our 3D OCT scans give a detailed view of the layers of the retina, which helps us spot changes early.
Treatment for diabetic retinopathy
Treatment is only needed if screening finds changes that put your sight at risk. The main treatments are:
- Laser treatment to treat the growth of new blood vessels, and to stabilise some cases of maculopathy.
- Eye injections to treat severe maculopathy that’s threatening your sight.
- Steroid eye implants if injections aren’t suitable or haven’t worked.
- Eye surgery to remove blood or scar tissue if the retinopathy is too advanced for laser treatment.
We don’t provide these treatments ourselves, but they’re available free on the NHS or through private clinics, and we can refer you if needed.
Get it checked
When to see an optometrist
If you have diabetes, have an eye examination every year, even if your vision seems normal. Regular checks pick up diabetic retinopathy before symptoms appear. Book an appointment if:
- You have diabetes and haven't had an eye examination in the last year
- You've missed a diabetic eye screening appointment
- Your vision is blurred or keeps changing
- You've noticed more floaters than usual
Get medical help straight away if you notice:
- Sudden or severe changes to your vision
- New floaters, dark spots or flashes of light
- Blurred or patchy vision that gets worse quickly
- Eye pain or redness
FAQs
Frequently asked questions about diabetic retinopathy
What is diabetic retinopathy?
Diabetic retinopathy is a complication of diabetes. High blood sugar damages the blood vessels in the retina at the back of the eye. Left undiagnosed or untreated, it can lead to sight loss and blindness, which is why early detection matters.
What are the symptoms of diabetic retinopathy?
In the early stages there are often no symptoms, which is why regular eye checks matter if you have diabetes. As it progresses, you may notice floaters, blurred or changing vision, dark or empty areas in your vision, or loss of vision.
What causes diabetic retinopathy?
Consistently high blood sugar damages the blood vessels in the retina, causing leaks, blockages and the growth of weak new vessels that can bleed. Managing your diabetes well is the most effective way to reduce your risk.
Who is at risk of diabetic retinopathy?
Anyone with type 1 or type 2 diabetes. The risk is higher if you’ve had diabetes for a long time, have high blood sugar, blood pressure or cholesterol, are pregnant, smoke, or are of Asian or African-Caribbean background.
How often should I have diabetic eye screening?
Everyone with diabetes aged 12 and over is invited for screening every 1 or 2 years. We also recommend an eye examination every year.
Can I drive after diabetic eye screening?
No. The drops used to widen your pupils can make your vision blurry for a few hours, so arrange a lift to and from your appointment.
What is diabetic maculopathy?
It’s when the blood vessels in the macula, the central part of the retina, become leaky or blocked. It can affect your central vision and may need treatment such as eye injections or laser treatment.
How is diabetic retinopathy treated?
Treatment is only needed if screening finds changes that put your sight at risk. The main treatments are laser treatment, eye injections, steroid eye implants and surgery to remove blood or scar tissue. We don’t provide these ourselves, but they’re available free on the NHS or through private clinics.
Can diabetic retinopathy be prevented?
You can lower your risk by keeping your blood sugar, blood pressure and cholesterol under control, taking your medicine as prescribed, staying active, eating well, not smoking and going to every screening appointment.
Medically reviewed by Amar-Kaash Gandecha, BSc(Hons) MCOptom DipTp(IP), Prof Cert Glauc, Director and Optometrist. Last reviewed 19 August 2026.
Living with diabetes?
Keep your eyes checked every year. Book an eye examination at our Newark, Anstey, Birstall or Sileby practice, or find out about diabetic eye screening.