Diabetic retinopathy is the most common eye disease among diabetes people. Retinopathy can affect all diabetics and increases the risk of blindness, if it is not diagnosed early or left untreated. The longer a person has diabetes, the greater the risk of developing diabetic retinopathy becomes. It occurs when changes in blood glucose levels cause changes in retinal blood vessels. The risk of developing diabetic retinopathy is more among diabetes people with less well controlled blood sugar, blood pressure and who are elderly. Diabetic retinopathy is caused by prolonged high blood glucose levels. Over time with high glucose levels the small blood vessels within the retina will be weakened and damaged. This results into haemorrhages, exudates and even swelling of the retina. This then starves the retina of oxygen, and abnormal vessels may grow. Diabetes also increases your risk of having glaucoma, cataracts and other eye problems. Good blood glucose control helps to lower diabetes retinopathy risks. We recommend getting an eye exam annually for all those with diabetes. Early detection can lead to better treatment results, especially with eye problems like glaucoma where the vision loss can be irreversible.