Symptoms and Complications
Early in diabetic retinopathy, there may be no symptoms at all. As the disease progresses, symptoms include:
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blurred vision
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fluctuating vision
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seeing floating spots
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blind spots
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changes in color perception
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sudden loss of vision
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double vision
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eye pain in advanced cases
The earliest sign of diabetic retinopathy that your doctor may detect is the formation of microaneurysms. These are balloon outpouchings of small blood vessels in the retina that appear as tiny red dots at the back of the eye; they sometimes break, causing bleeding in the retina and cloudy vision.
A more advanced form of diabetic retinopathy, called proliferative diabetic retinopathy, may lead to scars that decrease vision. In proliferative retinopathy, new blood vessels grow over the retina and into the vitreous humor. These blood vessels may swell and burst, causing bleeding and damage to the eye. In some cases, the blood can be reabsorbed, but in many cases the retina can become detached causing total blindness.
As with diabetic retinopathy, there may be no symptoms early in hypertensive retinopathy. However, as the condition progresses, symptoms include:
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headaches
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vision changes
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sudden loss of vision in one or both eyes
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double vision