Diabetes can impact various eye parts—the retina, macula, lens, and optic nerve—leading to diabetic eye disease. Regular eye check-ups are essential for early detection and effective treatment. Finding and treating problems early may save your vision. Learn more about diabetic eye disease including how it's diagnosed and treated.
Fundus photo showing scatter laser surgery for diabetic retinopathy
Image by National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health Permission (Reusing this file)
Overview
DiabeticRetinopathy
Image by Blausen.com staff (2014). "Medical gallery of Blausen Medical 2014
DiabeticRetinopathy
Diabetic Retinopathy
Image by Blausen.com staff (2014). "Medical gallery of Blausen Medical 2014
Diabetic Eye Disease
If you have diabetes, your blood glucose, or blood sugar, levels are too high. Over time, this can damage your eyes. The most common problem is diabetic retinopathy. It is a leading cause of blindness in American adults.
Your retina is the light-sensitive tissue at the back of your eye. You need a healthy retina to see clearly. Diabetic retinopathy damages the tiny blood vessels inside your retina.
You may not notice it at first. Symptoms can include
Blurry or double vision
Rings, flashing lights, or blank spots
Dark or floating spots
Pain or pressure in one or both of your eyes
Trouble seeing things out of the corners of your eyes
Treatment often includes laser treatment or surgery, with follow-up care.
Two other eye problems can happen to people with diabetes. A cataract is a cloud over the lens of your eye. Surgery helps you see clearly again. Glaucoma happens when pressure builds up in the eye, damaging the main nerve. Eye drops or surgery can help.
If you have diabetes, you should have a complete eye exam every year. Finding and treating problems early may save your vision.
Source: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
Additional Materials (11)
Fundus photo showing scatter laser surgery for diabetic retinopathy
Fundus photo showing scatter laser surgery for diabetic retinopathy.
Image by National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health Permission (Reusing this file)
A Doctor's Perspective on Diabetic Eye Disease
Video by Angiogenesis Foundation/YouTube
Eye Disease: An Avoidable Complication of Diabetes
Video by University of California Television (UCTV)/YouTube
Have diabetes? Keep your health on TRACK
Video by National Eye Institute, NIH/YouTube
A Physician's Perspective on Diabetic Eye Disease
Video by Angiogenesis Foundation/YouTube
Diabetic Eye Disease (PDR) Vitrectomy
Video by Thomas EyeGroup/YouTube
A Patient's Perspective on Diabetic Eye Disease
Video by Angiogenesis Foundation/YouTube
A Retina Specialist Talks About Diabetic Eye Disease
Video by Angiogenesis Foundation/YouTube
What You Need to Know About Diabetic Eye Disease
Video by Angiogenesis Foundation/YouTube
Vision for the Future: Understanding Diabetic Eye Disease
Video by Joslin Diabetes Center/YouTube
Diabetic Eye Disease
Video by National Eye Institute, NIH/YouTube
Fundus photo showing scatter laser surgery for diabetic retinopathy
National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health Permission (Reusing this file)
1:31
A Doctor's Perspective on Diabetic Eye Disease
Angiogenesis Foundation/YouTube
1:19:05
Eye Disease: An Avoidable Complication of Diabetes
University of California Television (UCTV)/YouTube
0:41
Have diabetes? Keep your health on TRACK
National Eye Institute, NIH/YouTube
1:21
A Physician's Perspective on Diabetic Eye Disease
Angiogenesis Foundation/YouTube
4:51
Diabetic Eye Disease (PDR) Vitrectomy
Thomas EyeGroup/YouTube
1:39
A Patient's Perspective on Diabetic Eye Disease
Angiogenesis Foundation/YouTube
1:38
A Retina Specialist Talks About Diabetic Eye Disease
Angiogenesis Foundation/YouTube
1:38
What You Need to Know About Diabetic Eye Disease
Angiogenesis Foundation/YouTube
3:30
Vision for the Future: Understanding Diabetic Eye Disease
Joslin Diabetes Center/YouTube
2:09
Diabetic Eye Disease
National Eye Institute, NIH/YouTube
What Is Diabetic Eye Disease?
Diabetic retinopathy - Diabetic Eye Disease NIDDK
Image by National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health
Diabetic retinopathy - Diabetic Eye Disease NIDDK
Proliferative retinopathy Description: Proliferative retinopathy, an advanced form of diabetic retinopathy, occurs when abnormal new blood vessels and scar tissue form on the surface of the retina.
Image by National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health
What Is Diabetic Eye Disease?
Diabetic eye disease is a group of eye problems that can affect people with diabetes. These conditions include diabetic retinopathy, diabetic macular edema, cataracts, and glaucoma.
Over time, diabetes can cause damage to your eyes that can lead to poor vision or even blindness. But you can take steps to prevent diabetic eye disease, or keep it from getting worse, by taking care of your diabetes.
The best ways to manage your diabetes and keep your eyes healthy are to
manage your blood glucose, blood pressure, and cholesterol, sometimes called the diabetes ABCs
If you smoke, get help to quit smoking
have a dilated eye exam once a year
Photo courtesy of the National Eye Institute, NIH.Your eyes may seem fine, but having a full, dilated eye exam is the only way to know for sure.
Often, there are no warning signs of diabetic eye disease or vision loss when damage first develops. A full, dilated eye exam helps your doctor find and treat eye problems early—often before much vision loss can occur.
Source: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
Additional Materials (2)
Diabetic Retinopathy - What is diabetic eye disease?
Animation showing progression of diabetic retinopathy.
Image by National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health
A Doctor's Perspective on Diabetic Eye Disease
Video by Angiogenesis Foundation/YouTube
Diabetic Retinopathy - What is diabetic eye disease?
National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health
1:31
A Doctor's Perspective on Diabetic Eye Disease
Angiogenesis Foundation/YouTube
Is It Common?
Populations - How Common
Image by geralt/Pixabay
Populations - How Common
Image by geralt/Pixabay
How Common Is Diabetic Eye Disease?
Diabetic retinopathy
About one in three people with diabetes who are older than age 40 already have some signs of diabetic retinopathy. Diabetic retinopathy is the most common cause of vision loss in people with diabetes. Each person’s outlook for the future, however, depends in large part on regular care. Finding and treating diabetic retinopathy early can reduce the risk of blindness by 95 percent.
Glaucoma and cataracts
Your chances of developing glaucoma or cataracts are about twice that of someone without diabetes.
Source: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
Additional Materials (1)
A Patient's Perspective on Diabetic Eye Disease
Video by Angiogenesis Foundation/YouTube
1:39
A Patient's Perspective on Diabetic Eye Disease
Angiogenesis Foundation/YouTube
How Does It Affect Vision?
Small blood vessels in a mouse retina
Image by National Center for Microscopy and Imaging Research
Small blood vessels in a mouse retina
Blood vessels at the back of the eye (retina) are used to diagnose glaucoma and diabetic eye disease. They also display characteristic changes in people with high blood pressure. In the image, the vessels appear green. It's not actually the vessels that are stained green, but rather filaments of a protein called actin that wraps around the vessels. Most of the red blood cells were replaced by fluid as the tissue was prepared for the microscope. The tiny red dots are red blood cells that remain in the vessels.
The image was captured using confocal and 2-photon excitation microscopy for a project related to neurofibromatosis.
Image by National Center for Microscopy and Imaging Research
How Does Diabetes Affect My Eyes?
Diabetes affects your eyes when your blood glucose, also called blood sugar, is too high.
In the short term, you are not likely to have vision loss from high blood glucose. People sometimes have blurry vision for a few days or weeks when they’re changing their diabetes care plan or medicines. High glucose can change fluid levels or cause swelling in the tissues of your eyes that help you to focus, causing blurred vision. This type of blurry vision is temporary and goes away when your glucose level gets closer to normal.
If your blood glucose stays high over time, it can damage the tiny blood vessels in the back of your eyes. This damage can begin during prediabetes, when blood glucose is higher than normal, but not high enough for you to be diagnosed with diabetes. Damaged blood vessels may leak fluid and cause swelling. New, weak blood vessels may also begin to grow. These blood vessels can bleed into the middle part of the eye, lead to scarring, or cause dangerously high pressure inside your eye.
Most serious diabetic eye diseases begin with blood vessel problems. The four eye diseases that can threaten your sight are
Diabetic retinopathy
The retina is the inner lining at the back of each eye. The retina senses light and turns it into signals that your brain decodes, so you can see the world around you. Damaged blood vessels can harm the retina, causing a disease called diabetic retinopathy.
In early diabetic retinopathy, blood vessels can weaken, bulge, or leak into the retina. This stage is called nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy.
If the disease gets worse, some blood vessels close off, which causes new blood vessels to grow, or proliferate, on the surface of the retina. This stage is called proliferative diabetic retinopathy. These abnormal new blood vessels can lead to serious vision problems.
Photo courtesy of the National Eye Institute, NIH.Normal vision of two boys playing.Photo courtesy of the National Eye Institute, NIH.Same scene, as viewed by a person with diabetic retinopathy.
Diabetic macular edema
The part of your retina that you need for reading, driving, and seeing faces is called the macula. Diabetes can lead to swelling in the macula, which is called diabetic macular edema. Over time, this disease can destroy the sharp vision in this part of the eye, leading to partial vision loss or blindness. Macular edema usually develops in people who already have other signs of diabetic retinopathy.
Glaucoma
Glaucoma is a group of eye diseases that can damage the optic nerve—the bundle of nerves that connects the eye to the brain. Diabetes doubles the chances of having glaucoma, which can lead to vision loss and blindness if not treated early.
Symptoms depend on which type of glaucoma you have.
Photo courtesy of the National Eye Institute, NIH.People with glaucoma slowly lose side vision.
Cataracts
The lenses within our eyes are clear structures that help provide sharp vision—but they tend to become cloudy as we age. People with diabetes are more likely to develop cloudy lenses, called cataracts. People with diabetes can develop cataracts at an earlier age than people without diabetes. Researchers think that high glucose levels cause deposits to build up in the lenses of your eyes.
Photo courtesy of the National Eye Institute, NIH.Cloudy vision and faded colors are symptoms of cataracts.
Source: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
Additional Materials (1)
Vision for the Future: Understanding Diabetic Eye Disease
Video by Joslin Diabetes Center/YouTube
3:30
Vision for the Future: Understanding Diabetic Eye Disease
Joslin Diabetes Center/YouTube
Risk Factors
Healthy Capillary Blood Vessel
Cross-section of Healthy Capillary Blood Vessel with Normal Glucose and Insulin Levels
Cross-Section of Damaged Capillary Blood Vessel with Very High Glucose and Insulin Levels
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Healthy Capillary Blood Vessel and and Damaged Capillary Blood Vessel Caused by High Levels of Blood Glucose
Interactive by TheVisualMD
Healthy Capillary Blood Vessel
Cross-section of Healthy Capillary Blood Vessel with Normal Glucose and Insulin Levels
Cross-Section of Damaged Capillary Blood Vessel with Very High Glucose and Insulin Levels
1
2
3
Healthy Capillary Blood Vessel and and Damaged Capillary Blood Vessel Caused by High Levels of Blood Glucose
1) Healthy Capillary Blood Vessel - This image depicts a healthy capillary. Capillaries are the smallest blood vessels in your body. They can be so thin in diameter that blood cells have to bend in order to pass through. Capillaries are where the transfer of nutrients from the blood to cells, and the transfer of waste from cells to blood, takes place. In a healthy body, the blood vessels are smooth and elastic.
2) Cross-Section of Healthy Capillary Blood Vessel with Normal Glucose and Insulin Levels - This image depicts a healthy capillary. The body's cells depend on sugar in the blood, which is derived from carbohydrates, for food and energy. Allowing for the innumerable differences among individuals, the threshold for a normal blood sugar (glucose, pink) level in healthy people is 100 mg/dL; that is, 100 milligrams of glucose per deciliter of blood. Lower-than-normal levels characterize hypoglycemia and higher-than-normal levels characterize hyperglycemia. Without insulin (yellow), glucose is not able to enter cells to be used as fuel. Because of this, healthy insulin levels are a key factor in keeping blood glucose levels normal.
3) Cross-Section of Damaged Capillary Blood Vessel with Very High Glucose and Insulin Levels - This image depicts an unhealthy, damaged capillary with very high levels of insulin and glucose. Higher than normal levels of blood glucose lead to hyperglycemia. Hyperglycemia is the hallmark of prediabetes (between 100 and 125 mg/dL) and diabetes (126 mg/dL and higher). It is caused by either too little insulin being released by the pancreas or the body's inability to use insulin properly. Hyperglycemia leads to microangiopathy, marked by endothelial cell apoptosis (programmed cell death), accumulation of AGEs (advanced glycation end products), and thickening of the basement membrane, which can lead to the development of lesions, vasoconstriction, and altered vessel function
Interactive by TheVisualMD
Who Is More Likely to Develop Diabetic Eye Disease?
Anyone with diabetes can develop diabetic eye disease. Your risk is greater with
high blood glucose that is not treated
high blood pressure that is not treated
High blood cholesterol and smoking may also raise your risk for diabetic eye disease.
Some groups are affected more than others. African Americans, American Indians and Alaska Natives, Hispanics/Latinos, Pacific Islanders, and older adults are at greater risk of losing vision or going blind from diabetes.
If you have diabetes and become pregnant, you can develop eye problems very quickly during your pregnancy. If you already have some diabetic retinopathy, it can get worse during pregnancy. Changes that help your body support a growing baby may put stress on the blood vessels in your eyes. Your health care team will suggest regular eye exams during pregnancy to catch and treat problems early and protect your vision.
Diabetes that occurs only during pregnancy, called gestational diabetes, does not usually cause eye problems. Researchers aren't sure why this is the case.
Your chances of developing diabetic eye disease increase the longer you have diabetes.
Source: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
Additional Materials (2)
Exercise Keeps Your Glucose and Insulin Levels in Balance: Before Exercise / Exercise Keeps Your Glucose and Insulin Levels in Balance: After Exercise
Exercise Keeps Your Glucose and Insulin Levels in Balance
Exercise has been proven to increase your cells' sensitivity to insulin. Insulin-sensitive cells can easily take up glucose and convert it to energy. Less glucose in your blood prompts the pancreas to produce less insulin. With less insulin, your body doesn’t store fat as easily.
See how glucose and insulin is affected before and after exercise.
Interactive by TheVisualMD
Diabetic Eye Disease
Video by National Eye Institute, NIH/YouTube
Exercise Keeps Your Glucose and Insulin Levels in Balance
TheVisualMD
2:09
Diabetic Eye Disease
National Eye Institute, NIH/YouTube
Symptoms
Vision with Diabetic Retinopathy
Image by National Eye Institute (NEI)
Vision with Diabetic Retinopathy
Image by National Eye Institute (NEI)
What Are the Symptoms of Diabetic Eye Disease?
Often there are no early symptoms of diabetic eye disease. You may have no pain and no change in your vision as damage begins to grow inside your eyes, particularly with diabetic retinopathy.
When symptoms do occur, they may include
blurry or wavy vision
frequently changing vision—sometimes from day to day
dark areas or vision loss
poor color vision
spots or dark strings (also called floaters)
flashes of light
Talk with your eye doctor if you have any of these symptoms.
When should I see a doctor right away?
Call a doctor right away if you notice sudden changes to your vision, including flashes of light or many more spots (floaters) than usual. You also should see a doctor right away if it looks like a curtain is pulled over your eyes. These changes in your sight can be symptoms of a detached retina, which is a medical emergency.
Source: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
Additional Materials (1)
What You Need to Know About Diabetic Eye Disease
Video by Angiogenesis Foundation/YouTube
1:38
What You Need to Know About Diabetic Eye Disease
Angiogenesis Foundation/YouTube
Diagnosis
Eye Exam
Image by Air Force Senior Airman Michael Murphy
Eye Exam
Air Force Capt. Everlino Ramos, a family health physician assistant assigned to the 36th Medical Operations Squadron, performs an eye exam on a patient at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, May 16, 2020. The Andersen Medical Clinic has extended its hours to meet the needs of retirees who are not able to receive medical care during the week.
Image by Air Force Senior Airman Michael Murphy
How Do Doctors Diagnose Eye Problems From Diabetes?
Having a full, dilated eye exam is the best way to check for eye problems from diabetes. Your doctor will place drops in your eyes to widen your pupils. This allows the doctor to examine a larger area at the back of each eye, using a special magnifying lens. Your vision will be blurry for a few hours after a dilated exam.
Your doctor will also
test your vision
measure the pressure in your eyes
Your doctor may suggest other tests, too, depending on your health history.
Most people with diabetes should see an eye care professional once a year for a complete eye exam. Your own health care team may suggest a different plan, based on your type of diabetes and the time since you were first diagnosed.
Eye exam guidelines for diabetes :
Type 1: Yearly eye exams should start within 5 years of diagnosis.
Type 2: Yearly eye exams should start right after diagnosis.
Pregnancy: Women with type 1 and type 2 diabetes need an eye exam before pregnancy or within the first 3 months. Your doctor may want you to repeat the exam later in your pregnancy and until your baby is 1 year old.
Women who develop gestational diabetes don’t usually need an eye exam because they don’t develop diabetic eye disease during pregnancy. If you have any questions, ask your doctor.
Source: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
Additional Materials (2)
Sensitive content
This media may include sensitive content
Eye exam
Capt. Luanne Danes uses a light to check the anterior segment of Master Sgt. Timothy Vanderhoff's eye during his visit to the Optometry Clinic Nov. 19, 2009, Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska. Captain Danes is looking for healthy structure of the eye and ensuring no corneal disease is present. Captain Danes, officer in charge of Optometry, is assigned to the 354th Medical Operation Squadron. Sergeant Vanderhoff, crew chief, is assigned to the 168th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Christopher Boitz)
Image by U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Christopher Boitz
A Physician's Perspective on Diabetic Eye Disease
Video by Angiogenesis Foundation/YouTube
Sensitive content
This media may include sensitive content
Eye exam
U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Christopher Boitz
1:21
A Physician's Perspective on Diabetic Eye Disease
Angiogenesis Foundation/YouTube
Treatment
Photocoagulation
Image by BruceBlaus
Photocoagulation
A medical illustration depicting a photocoagulation surgery.
Image by BruceBlaus
How Do Doctors Treat Diabetic Eye Disease?
Your doctor may recommend having eye exams more often than once a year, along with management of your diabetes. This means managing your diabetes ABCs, which include your A1c, blood pressure, and cholesterol; and quitting smoking. Ask your health care team what you can do to reach your goals.
Management of blood glucose can help prevent diabetic eye disease and keep it from getting worse.
Doctors may treat advanced eye problems with medicine, laser treatments, surgery, or a combination of these options.
Medicine
Your doctor may treat your eyes with anti-VEGF medicine, such as aflibercept, bevacizumab, or ranibizumab. These medicines block the growth of abnormal blood vessels in the eye. Anti-VEGF medicines can also stop fluid leaks, which can help treat diabetic macular edema.
The doctor will inject an anti-VEGF medicine into your eyes during office visits. You'll have several treatments during the first few months, then fewer treatments after you finish the first round of therapy. Your doctor will use medicine to numb your eyes so you don’t feel pain. The needle is about the thickness of a human hair.
Anti-VEGF treatments can stop further vision loss and may improve vision in some people.
Laser Treatment
Laser treatment, also called photocoagulation, creates tiny burns inside the eye with a beam of light. This method treats leaky blood vessels and extra fluid, called edema. Your doctor usually provides this treatment during several office visits, using medicine to numb your eyes. Laser treatment can keep eye disease from getting worse, which is important to prevent vision loss or blindness. But laser treatment is less likely to bring back vision you’ve already lost compared with anti-VEGF medicines.
There are two types of laser treatment:
Focal/grid laser treatment works on a small area of the retina to treat diabetic macular edema.
Scatter laser treatment, also called panretinal photocoagulation (PRP), covers a larger area of the retina. This method treats the growth of abnormal blood vessels, called proliferative diabetic retinopathy.
Vitrectomy
Vitrectomy is a surgery to remove the clear gel that fills the center of the eye, called the vitreous gel. The procedure treats problems with severe bleeding or scar tissue caused by proliferative diabetic retinopathy. Scar tissue can force the retina to peel away from the tissue beneath it, like wallpaper peeling away from a wall. A retina that comes completely loose, or detaches, can cause blindness.
During vitrectomy, a clear salt solution is gently pumped into the eye to maintain eye pressure during surgery and to replace the removed vitreous. Vitrectomy is done in a surgery center or hospital with pain medicine.
Cataract Lens Surgery
In a surgery center or hospital visit, your doctor can remove the cloudy lens in your eye, where the cataract has grown, and replace it with an artificial lens. People who have cataract surgery generally have better vision afterward. After your eye heals, you may need a new prescription for your glasses. Your vision following cataract surgery may also depend on treating any damage from diabetic retinopathy or macular edema.
Source: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
Additional Materials (2)
Monoclonal Antibody
Antibody-drug conjugate
Image by Bioconjugator
Diabetic retinopathy: treatment & prevention
Video by Top Doctors UK/YouTube
Monoclonal Antibody
Bioconjugator
2:48
Diabetic retinopathy: treatment & prevention
Top Doctors UK/YouTube
Prevention
Monitoring Glucose - Know Your Blood Sugar Numbers: Use Them to Manage Your Diabetes
Image by TheVisualMD
Monitoring Glucose - Know Your Blood Sugar Numbers: Use Them to Manage Your Diabetes
Regularly checking blood sugar levels is very important. It allows quick responses to blood sugar levels that are too low (hypoglycemia) or too high (hyperglycemia). Adjustments can include diet, exercise, oral medications, or insulin, as instructed by a health-care provider. Keeping track of blood sugar levels also permits someone with diabetes to see patterns in blood sugar levels, and this helps in planning meals, activities, and medication times.
Image by TheVisualMD
What Can I Do to Protect My Eyes?
To prevent diabetic eye disease, or to keep it from getting worse, manage your diabetes ABCs: your A1c, blood pressure, and cholesterol; and quit smoking if you smoke. Read more information on how to manage diabetes.
Also, have a dilated eye exam at least once a year—or more often if recommended by your eye care professional. These actions are powerful ways to protect the health of your eyes—and can prevent blindness.
The sooner you work to manage your diabetes and other health conditions, the better. And, even if you’ve struggled in the past to manage your health, taking better care of yourself now can protect your eyes for the future. It’s never too late to begin.
Source: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
Additional Materials (1)
Eye Disease: An Avoidable Complication of Diabetes
Video by University of California Television (UCTV)/YouTube
1:19:05
Eye Disease: An Avoidable Complication of Diabetes
University of California Television (UCTV)/YouTube
Living With
Manage Diabetes
Image by TheVisualMD
Manage Diabetes
Along with lifestyle changes, regular monitoring of blood glucose levels is necessary.
Blood Pressure Reading: Photo Copyright 2006, Lemuel Cantos
Image by TheVisualMD
What If I Already Have Some Vision Loss From Diabetes?
Ask your eye care professional to help you find a low vision and rehabilitation clinic. Special eye care professionals can help you manage vision loss that cannot be corrected with glasses, contact lenses, medicine, or surgery. Special devices and training may help you make the most of your remaining vision so that you can continue to be active, enjoy hobbies, visit friends and family members, and live without help from others.
Source: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
Additional Materials (2)
Manage Your Diabetes by Checking Your Blood Glucose
Image by TheVisualMD
A Retina Specialist Talks About Diabetic Eye Disease
Video by Angiogenesis Foundation/YouTube
Manage Your Diabetes by Checking Your Blood Glucose
TheVisualMD
1:38
A Retina Specialist Talks About Diabetic Eye Disease
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Diabetic Eye Disease
Diabetes can impact various eye parts—the retina, macula, lens, and optic nerve—leading to diabetic eye disease. Regular eye check-ups are essential for early detection and effective treatment. Finding and treating problems early may save your vision. Learn more about diabetic eye disease including how it's diagnosed and treated.