Retinopathy: a degenerative disease of the retina

Patients with diabetes are at risk for a group of pathological disorders of the retina, also called diabetic retinopathy. Severe vision loss and blindness can result.

Diabetic retinopathy, caused by poorly controlled Diabetes Mellitus, is a disorder of the blood vessels in the retina. Your diabetic patient could have diabetic retinopathy and not notice changes to vision. Left untreated, diabetic retinopathy can cause vision loss.