Symptoms of diabetic retinopathy
Diabetic retinopathy does not usually have any symptoms at first. It's usually found when you go to your diabetic eye screening appointments.
In the later stages, symptoms can include:
- your eyesight getting worse
- blurred vision
- dots and lines (floaters) in your vision
- finding it harder to see in the dark or low light
The symptoms may gradually get worse over time. It can eventually lead to sight loss.
Symptoms can affect one or both eyes.
Non-urgent advice: Contact a GP, your diabetes care team or an opticians if:
You have diabetes and problems with your eyes or vision, such as:
- your eyesight getting worse over time
- floaters in your vision
- difficulty seeing in low light
These symptoms do not always mean you have diabetic retinopathy, but it's important to get them checked.
Urgent advice: Ask for an urgent GP appointment or get help from NHS 111 if:
You have diabetes and:
- your eyesight suddenly gets worse
- you get blurred vision
You can call 111 or get help from 111 online.
Screening for diabetic retinopathy
Diabetic retinopathy is usually found during a diabetic eye screening appointment, which involves taking photographs of the back of your eye.
If you have diabetes and you're aged 12 or over, you'll be invited for diabetic eye screening every 1 or 2 years.
You'll also need to have regular eye tests at an opticians, to check for other eye problems that can be linked to diabetes such as glaucoma.
If you think you're due for diabetic eye screening and you have not had an invitation letter in the post, contact your GP surgery or your local eye screening service.
Stages and types of diabetic retinopathy
Diabetic retinopathy develops in 3 stages. It usually gets worse gradually, over several years. Treatment can help stop it from progressing to the next stage.
| Stage | What it means |
|---|---|
|
Background diabetic retinopathy |
There are some signs of damage to blood vessels in your eye but your vision is not affected |
|
Pre-proliferative diabetic retinopathy |
There are more signs of damage to blood vessels in your eye, and there's a risk that your vision will be affected in the future. You will not need treatment yet but you'll be offered more frequent screening |
|
Proliferative diabetic retinopathy |
There are more serious changes to blood vessels in your eye that could affect your vision or cause sight loss. You'll need to see a specialist for treatment |
There is also a type of diabetic retinopathy called diabetic maculopathy. In the early stages it has no symptoms and does not affect your vision.
In a very small number of people it progresses to an advanced stage and affects the central part of your vision. This means you may be able to see around the edges of your vision, but not be able to read clearly.
Treatment for diabetic retinopathy
It's not possible to cure sight loss caused by diabetic retinopathy. The aim of treatment is to help stop your vision from getting worse.
If you're diagnosed with diabetic retinopathy it's important to manage your diabetes well to help stop it getting worse.
If you have background or pre-proliferative diabetic retinopathy, you will not need treatment. You'll be monitored at your regular eye screening appointments.
If you have proliferative diabetic retinopathy, you'll be referred to an eye specialist for treatment.
The main treatments are:
- laser treatment on the blood vessels at the back of your eye (laser photocoagulation)
- regular eye injections of a medicine called anti-VEGF, which reduces damage to blood vessels
- an implant in your eye that gradually releases steroid medicine, to reduce swelling in your eye
- eye surgery, such as an operation to remove scar tissue or blood from the back of your eye
Your specialist will advise on what treatment is best for you. They'll explain the risks and benefits of the procedure, and what will happen.
How to reduce your risk of diabetic retinopathy
Diabetic retinopathy happens when high blood glucose (sugar) damages the blood vessels in your retina, which is at the back of your eye.
It's more likely to happen if you've had diabetes for a long time, and if you have high blood pressure or high cholesterol.
If you have diabetes, you can reduce the risk of diabetic retinopathy by:
- managing your blood glucose as well as possible – you can learn how to do this by attending a diabetes course
- making healthy lifestyle changes to lower high blood pressure and high cholesterol
- not smoking
Important
It's important to go to all of your diabetic eye screening appointments, as these can help find and treat any problems as soon as possible.
Help and support for diabetic retinopathy
If diabetic retinopathy affects your vision it can be difficult to live with, both practically and emotionally.
As well as support from your diabetes team, you may find it helpful to get support from other people with diabetes or sight loss, either at a local support group or online.
There are also national charities that can offer support and information about diabetic retinopathy or sight loss.
Diabetes UK
Information and support for anyone with diabetes.
- Website: www.diabetes.org.uk
- Helpline: 0345 123 2399
- Email: helpline@diabetes.org.uk
- Diabetes UK: local support groups
- Diabetes UK: diabetic retinopathy
Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB)
Information and support for blind and partially sighted people, their families and carers.
- Website: www.rnib.org.uk
- Helpline: 0303 123 9999
- RNIB: practical and emotional support
Page last reviewed: 17 July 2025
Next review due: 17 July 2028