Who is most likely to get retinopathy?
Anyone with diabetes. The longer someone has diabetes, the more likely retinopathy will develop, so it’s more common in people with juvenile-onset diabetes than those with adult-onset diabetes. About half of all people with diabetes will develop some degree of the disease. What are the symptoms? In the early stages of retinopathy, there may be no symptoms at all. There is no pain, and vision may not be affected until the disease becomes severe. As the disease progresses, symptoms can include: – Blurred or dimmed vision – Change in central and/or color vision – Temporary blindness How is retinopathy detected? During a comprehensve examination, an eye care professional places medicated drops into the eye to dilate te pupil, providing a better view inside the eye and allowing the eye care professional to look for signs of the disease. Because retinopathy can progress with no symptoms, it’s very important for anyone with diabetes to undergo a comprehensive examination at least once a year.
