Background
Diabetic retinopathy is a complication of diabetes, which seriously affects vision. Blood vessels that irrigate the retina are deteriorated, causing lost of fluid or blood; new fragile vessels are formed and can easily break causing a hemorrhage.
Fibrous tissue is also formed causing retina´s traction, in which cases the retina can be detached. All this translates into distortion and loss of vision.
The longer a person has diabetes the higher the risk of suffering this disease. Studies report that around 80% of diabetics have some degree of retinopathy after 10 to 15 years of suffering it.
At the beginning, the patients may not have any symptom, however when it gets worse, they may notice the presence of a visual distortion, spots, or even completely loss their vision.