Diabetic Eye Disease
Diabetic Retinopathy
Diabetic retinopathy is the leading cause of vision loss associated with diabetes and affects nearly half a million Canadians. This condition develops when retinal blood vessels become clogged, irritated, or damaged due to high blood sugar levels.
Advanced diabetic retinopathy can lead to eventual retinal detachment, diabetic macular edema, and other issues.
Diabetic Macular Edema
When diabetic retinopathy is allowed to progress, it can evolve into diabetic macular edemadiabetic macular edema. This condition occurs when damaged blood vessels in the macula begin to leak blood, causing the macula to swell and distort vision. Symptoms of diabetic macular edema include double vision, blurry vision, and if left untreated, blindness.