How does diabetic retinopathy cause vision loss?
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Blood vessels damaged from diabetic retinopathy can cause vision loss in two ways:
- Fragile, abnormal blood vessels can develop and leak blood into the centre of the eye, blurring vision. This is proliferative retinopathy and is the fourth and most advanced stage of the disease.
- Fluid can leak into the centre of the macula, the part of the retina responsible for the sharp, straight-ahead vision. The fluid makes the macula swell, blurring your vision. This condition is called macular oedema. It can occur at any stage of diabetic retinopathy, although it is more likely to occur as the disease progresses. About half of the people with proliferative retinopathy also have macular oedema.
Looking at a dog with normal vision and Vision affected by diabetic retinopathy