Diabetic retinopathy

As its name suggests, diabetic retinopathy is an eye disease linked to diabetes. Diabetes is caused by an excess of sugar in the blood, which causes severe damage to the blood vessels. Nourished by the veins and therefore by the blood system, the retina is thus affected and damaged.

Diabetic retinopathy can be the cause of other pathologies such as retinal detachment, and generally manifests itself as reduced visual acuity, impaired vision of detail (reading, etc.), the appearance of black spots due to small haemorrhages, and even visual discomfort with the appearance of white areas.

Diabetic retinopathy affects many people, and can even lead to blindness. Every year, almost 1,000 more French people suffer from poor vision or go blind. What's more, in industrialized countries, diabetic retinopathy is the leading cause of blindness in people under 60.

To limit these effects, it is vital to undergo regular ophthalmic screening. The earlier retinopathy is detected, the sooner symptoms can be treated, thus avoiding the worst. In the case of advanced diabetic retinopathy, laser surgery may also be recommended. With the right medical treatment, retinopathy can be treated under the best possible conditions.