Changes in the eyes go unnoticed for a long time. Morphologic change, however, often precedes functional deterioration. Only late do the following symptoms and complaints indicate diabetic retinopathy:
Leading symptoms
- General visual deterioration in the sense of blurred vision.
- Distorted vision (metamorphopsia)
- Color sense disorders
- “Sooty rain” in front of the eye due to vitreous hemorrhages up to practical blindness due to persistent vitreous hemorrhages or in tractive retinal detachments.
- Total loss of vision
Further notes
- Visual disturbances and loss result from macular edema (accumulation of fluid (edema) in the area of the yellow spot, macula lutea), vitreous hemorrhage, and amotio retinae (synonyms: ablation retinae; retinal detachment).
