What Is Diabetic Retinopathy?
Diabetic retinopathy is a diabetes complication that causes eye problems. It damages the blood vessels inside the retina and can cause blurred vision, vision floaters, and difficulty seeing colors.
If left untreated, it can cause blindness.
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Non-Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy (NPDR)
Non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy, or NPDR, is a form of diabetic retinopathy. NDPR occurs when diabetes damages small blood vessels within the retina. These vessels start to leak both fluid and blood, gradually causing the retina to thicken or swell. Over time, the swelling, or edema, thickens the retina causing the vision to become blurred.
Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy (PDR)
Another form of diabetic retinopathy is called proliferative diabetic retinopathy, or PDR, which occurs when new and fragile blood vessels grow abnormally from the retina into the vitreous. This can result in bleeding, scarring, and contraction of the vitreous, which may lead to retinal detachment. PDR can cause severe vision problems, and it can even lead to blindness. It must be treated as soon as possible.