Diabetic retinopathy is a complication of diabetes mellitus,
which causes bleeding in the small blood vessels, in the back of
the eye. Over time, these vessels weaken and leak fluid and
blood into the retina. Without proper treatment, diabetic
retinopathy can result in visual distortions, floaters and even
blindness. There are two types of diabetic retinopathy:
background and proliferative diabetic retinopathy. In the early
diabetic retinopathy stage, tiny blood vessels in the retina
leak clear fluid. Abnormal blood vessels can also leak fats and
proteins, which develop into deposits. Depending on where the
leaking and deposits occur will affect whether diabetic
retinopathy symptoms are noticeable. At this point, the vision
is distorted, but not seriously affected. The condition is more
advanced at this stage. The retinal blood vessels are so damaged
that they eventually close off. New and more fragile vessels
grow over the retina, and sometimes into the vitreous. They
bleed and can cause vitreous hemorrhages