If you have diabetic retinopathy, the small blood vessels in your retina leak blood and fluid into the retina – the light-sensitive layer of cells at the back of your eye. Although this does not affect your vision in the early stages, if it is left untreated it may lead to sight loss.
Diabetic retinopathy affects people with type 1 or type 2 diabetes, especially if you:
You can reduce your chances of developing diabetic retinopathy by keeping your blood sugar, blood pressure and cholesterol levels under control.
The early stages of diabetic retinopathy do not usually have any particular symptoms, so if you are diabetic it is important that you are regularly checked for diabetic retinopathy.
If you have diabetes and are aged 12 or over, you should be invited to have screening for diabetic retinopathy. This is to reduce the risk of sight loss, so it is important that you have the screening done if you are eligible. Treatment for diabetic retinopathy is more effective if the condition is detected early.
This means it is very important that you attend your screening appointments, particularly as you may not
notice any change to your vision until the very late stages. The screening involves putting drops in your eyes to make your pupils larger. You will then have photographs taken of the retina at the back of your eye.
If the condition progresses, you may experience the following symptoms:
You will usually be treated for diabetic retinopathy in hospital. The main treatments are:
Last reviewed: February 2026
