Diabetic retinopathy is a complication of Diabetes that occurs when the blood vessels in the eye are damaged due to uncontrolled blood sugar levels..This leads to a lack of oxygen and nutrient supply to parts of the eye. Diabetic retinopathy leads to loss of vision in the long term. A recent study conducted in the UK has sought to find a way to diagnose early the risk of diabetic retinopathy in an individual and prevent further deterioration. The study was conducted on 1066 people with Type 2 Diabetes and photographs of their retinas were clicked to measure the curvature of blood vessels connecting to the retina. The participants were observed for up to 10 years for their eye health.The results have shown that people whose blood vessels had increased curvature had a high risk of developing diabetic retinopathy.Researchers are currently working on creating a tool for early diagnosis of diabetic retinopathy along with HbAlc (a three-month average of blood sugar levels) and other health parameters.
