Complications:
Diabetic retinopathy doesn’t affect the vision alone; it causes other problems that worsen the condition, such as:
Vitreous hemorrhage:
As we said, the newly formed fragile vessels on the retia may easily bleed to the vitreous, and the amount of bleeding may make floaters in your visual field (if slight) or block it (if much). Vitreous hemorrhage alone doesn’t cause permanent blindness because the blood clears from the eyes spontaneously. Your vision may return clear again if there is no retinal damage.
Retinal detachment
The newly formed vessels may also stimulate scar formation that pulls the retina and detach it. Retinal detachment may cause you to see light flashes or floating spots, or you may lose your vision.
Glaucoma
The newly formed vessels may extend to the iris (in the anterior chamber of the eyes), interfere with the normal fluid drainage out of the eyes, and increase the intraocular pressure, causing glaucoma. This condition may damage the optic nerve and cause permanent blindness.
Diabetic macular edema
Macula gives you a sharp and focused central vision that helps you read, drive, and recognize faces. Macular edema is the most common cause of vision loss among these patients. 50% of patients with diabetic retinopathy develop macular edema at any stage but more likely in the later stages. Vision loss due to macular edema is usually irreversible.
Blindness
You may lose your sight due to any of the above complications or a combination of them. The risk is higher with poor management.
