What are the symptoms?

Often diabetic retinopathy may not show symptoms in the early stages which is why it’s important to have regular eye tests.

Once it progresses, symptoms of diabetic retinopathy can include:

• Blurry or distorted vision which cannot be corrected with glasses.
• Fluctuations in vision (gets better and worse).
• Sensitivity to light and glare.
• Floaters (moving spots or dark strings in your vision).
• Patchy vision, holes or dark patches in your vision.
• Flashes of light, often in your peripheral/side vision.

If you notice any symptoms or more symptoms, even after being diagnosed, visit your eye care practitioner as soon as possible.

Diagnosing diabetic retinopathy

If you have diabetes, it is important to have regular eye examinations and to tell your practitioner that you have diabetes. As in the initial stages of diabetic retinopathy there are often no symptoms, an eye examination can determine if you have diabetic retinopathy.

An optometrist or ophthalmologist will test your vision and look at the back of your eye to examine the retina and check your blood vessels. Often, they will photograph the back of your eye to monitor changes over time. Some routine tests include:

• Checking your visual acuity, which is your ability to see detail at different distances. This can include recognising letters at varying distances.
• Assessing your peripheral vision with a visual field test, which is your ability to see in your side vision.
• Checking your retina at the back of your eye with an ophthalmoscope by shining a light into your eye and looking through different lenses or using an optical coherence tomography scan (OCT) which creates a 3D cross section image to see the layers in the retina and take digital colour photos of the retina.
• Checking the surface of your eye and other structures within the eye with a microscope called a slit lamp.
• Measuring the pressure in your eyes.

For more information

• Always speak to your GP and eye care professional about the best treatment options for you.
• Visit Diabetes Australia.
• Visit KeepSight.