Diabetic Retinopathy - Keep an Eye on your sight

      Symptoms of Diabetic Retinopathy may include:

• "Spiders," "cobwebs" or tiny specks floating in your vision

• Dark streaks or a red film that blocks vision

• Vision loss or blurred vision

• A dark or empty spot in the center of your vision

• Poor night vision

• Difficulty adjusting from bright light to dim light

Mild Nonproliferative Retinopathy. At this earliest stage, microaneurysms occur. They are small areas of balloon-like swelling in the retina's tiny blood vessels.

Moderate Nonproliferative Retinopathy. As the disease progresses, some blood vessels that nourish the retina are blocked.

Severe Nonproliferative Retinopathy. Many more blood vessels are blocked, depriving several areas of the retina with their blood supply. These areas of the retina send signals to the body to grow new blood vessels for nourishment.

Proliferative Retinopathy. At this advanced stage, the signals sent by the retina for nourishment trigger the growth of new blood vessels. This condition is called proliferative retinopathy. These new blood vessels are abnormal and fragile. They grow along the retina and along the surface of the clear, vitreous gel that fills the inside of the eye.