Diabetic retinopathy is diagnosed with a dilated eye exam. Eye drops are placed in the eyes which widens the pupils. This allows your eye care professional to see the back of the eye clearly. They will cause your eyes to be blurry for a few hours.
During the exam your doctor will look for:
·
- Presence of a cataract
- Abnormal blood vessels
- Swelling, blood or fatty deposits in the retina
- Growth of new blood vessels and scar tissue
- Bleeding in the vitreous humor
- Retinal detachment
- Abnormalities in your optic nerve
If diabetic retinopathy is detected then your G.P. or ophthalmologist will recommend the best course of treatment.
Learn more about treatment for diabetic retinopathy
