Diabetic Retinopathy

Diabetes can damage the small blood vessels that deliver blood to the retina in your eyes, causing them to swell or leak. They can also close off entirely, and sometimes new blood vessels form. This is called diabetic retinopathy and is the number one cause of blindness among working-age adults.

Four in 10 people with diabetes have diabetic retinopathy. Many of them do not know it because the damage occurs slowly, so the problem is not detected until vision is lost.

Screening for diabetic retinopathy can catch the problem while it is still treatable. Screening is quick, simple, and painless. It can save your vision.

Do not wait. Call your Bellin Health provider to schedule an appointment today.

How Does it Work?
 

When Should You Get Tested?

Type 1 – Within 5 years of your diabetes diagnosis
Type 2 – At the time of diabetes diagnosis
Pregnancy – Early in the first trimester