what is diabetic retinopathy

Diabetic retinopathy is an eye condition that can cause vision loss and blindness in people who have diabetes. It is caused by damage to the blood vessels of the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye, known as the retina. Over time, too much sugar in the blood can lead to the blockage of the tiny blood vessels that nourish the retina, cutting off its blood supply. As a result, the eye attempts to grow new blood vessels, but these new blood vessels dont develop properly and can leak easily. There are two types of diabetic retinopathy: nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR) and proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) . NPDR is the early stage of the disease in which new blood vessels arent growing, while PDR is the more advanced stage where damaged blood vessels close off, causing the growth of new, abnormal blood vessels in the retina. These new blood vessels are fragile and can leak into the clear, jelly-like substance that fills the center of the eye (vitreous), causing vision loss. Anyone who has diabetes can develop diabetic retinopathy, but the risk of developing the eye condition can increase as a result of having diabetes for a long time, poor control of blood sugar level, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, pregnancy, tobacco use, and being Black, Hispanic, or Native American.