About 30 to 40 percent of patients with diabetes in the United States experience diabetic retinopathy, which occurs when high blood sugar damages the tiny blood vessels of the retina.
The severity is tied to the duration and management of a patient’s diabetes. Over time, advanced cases can lead to poor vision or even blindness.
That’s why preventive self-care and regular eye exams are important, says Thomas Gardner, MD, a professor of ophthalmology at the University of Michigan Kellogg Eye Center.