There are of course numerous complications resulting from diabetes. Diabetic retinopathy is one that directly effects your vision. It happens because the eye’s retina is damaged because of the diabetes. So let’s take a closer look, starting with an explanation of what the retina is.

Simply put, the retina is a lot like the camera of your eye. It is a group of nerves at the back of the eyeball that transmits the picture you see to your brain. It’s not a complicated process unless retinopathy interferes.

The blood vessels that are in the retina are very sensitive. When they split, the fluid that was in the vessels starts to drip into the eye’s compound. And when this happens the problems begin.

The first thing you’ll notice is what seems like an obstruction in your vision. Over time, scar tissue develops both in and around your eyeball. And finally, the retina will actually detach from where it normally sits.

In diabetics this is more likely to happen because elevated blood sugar levels can trigger the problem. And what makes this worse is that it is normal not to have any symptoms until the problem reaches the severe stage. The end result is that by the time you realize you have a problem, it can be too late to fully correct it. Diabetic especially need to go to the eye doctor a minimum of once a year. By doing so the problem can be caught early enough to make correcting it much easier.

And between visits, always be on the lookout for symptoms or any changes in your vision. Things like black or white spots, called floaters, that appear without reason. Weak and blurry vision can also be a sign of diabetic retinopathy. Double vision too can be a sign. Even if these problems seem mild, they need to be taken seriously. And that means getting in touch with your eye doctor immediately.

The good news is that often treatment is not necessary. But if treatment is needed, there are several options designed to reduce lost vision. You and your doctor will decide between prescription medication, laser treatments or more invasive surgery.

Remember the key to a successful treatment is to catch any problems early. Schedule yearly (or more frequent) visits to your eye doctor. This will help you discover if you have a problem soon enough to keep your diabetic retinopathy from becoming too severe.