Diabetic retinopathy is a form of eye disease caused by chronically high or variable blood sugar that is associated with diabetes. If left untreated, diabetic retinopathy can lead to vision loss and blindness. The condition develops slowly throughout many years; therefore, it is essential to undergo regular eye tests when you have Diabetes. Retinopathy is basically impaired blood vessels in the retina which is the thin inner light-sensitive layer situated in the back of the eyes. In some cases, these vessels will swell up (macular oedema) and leak fluid into the rear of the eye. In other cases, abnormal blood vessels will grow on the surface of the retina. Diabetic retinopathy occurs in three stages: Background retinopathy - Background retinopathy is said to occur if you have developed microaneurysms on your retina. Microaneurysms are when there is a swelling of the capillaries (very small blood vessels) that feed the retina . It is ...