Diabetic retinopathy is a complication of diabetes. Most commonly affecting patients who have poor sugar control over a long period of time. The high sugar level in the blood causes damage to the blood vessels in the retina, which is the tissue at the back of the eye that senses light rays and allow us to see.

It is important to screen patients with diabetes regularly for diabetic retinopathy, as catching early changes before symptoms even develop can save the eye from getting significantly damaged.

Early in the disease, patients can feel completely normal. As the condition advances, patient can complain of blurry vision, floaters, colour blindness and permanent vision loss.

In a specific type of diabetic retinopathy known as diabetic macular oedema, central vision is affected while side vision is intact affecting activities like driving and reading. This happens due to fluid leakage from the damaged blood vessels into the macula which is an area in the retina responsible for central vision.