Diabetes can cause a number of eye diseases including diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, and cataracts. The most common diabetic eye disease is diabetic retinopathy. It is the most common cause of blindness for people under the age of 55 in the United States. Anyone with diabetes can develop diabetic retinopathy. Half of all diabetics will develop some degree of diabetic retinopathy in their lifetime.

There are no symptoms in the early stages of diabetic retinopathy. People with advanced diabetic retinopathy may experience blurred vision, black floaters, or sudden loss of vision.

In many cases diabetic retinopathy can be treated before vision loss occurs. This is why the American Diabetes Association recommends that ALL people with diabetes need to have a medical eye exam at least once a year. Finding and treating diabetic retinopathy early is the best way to control diabetic eye disease.