Diabetic Retinopathy

Diabetic Retinopathy is a common eye condition that affects people with diabetes. It involves damage to the small blood vessels in the retina, the part of the eye responsible for sensing light and sending visual signals to the brain. Over time, high blood sugar levels can cause these vessels to leak or become blocked, leading to vision problems. Early stages may not cause noticeable symptoms, but as the disease progresses, it can result in blurred vision, floaters, or even vision loss. Regular eye exams are important to detect changes before serious damage occurs.

Diabetic Retinopathy is a microvascular complication of chronic hyperglycemia in diabetes mellitus characterized by progressive damage to the retinal capillaries. The core pathology involves pericyte loss, basement membrane thickening, and microaneurysm formation, leading to increased vascular permeability and ischemia. This ischemia stimulates the release of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), promoting pathological neovascularization in proliferative stages. Clinically, it is classified into nonproliferative and proliferative forms, with the latter posing a high risk for severe vision loss due to vitreous hemorrhage and retinal detachment. Diabetic Retinopathy is a leading cause of preventable blindness in working-age adults worldwide.