What is retinopathy?

Retinopathy refers to damage to small blood vessels in the eye that can lead to vision problems. In background retinopathy, the blood vessels bulge and leak fluids into the retina and may cause blurred vision. Proliferative retinopathy is more serious and can cause vision loss. In this condition, new blood vessels form in the retina and branch out to other areas of the eye. This can cause blood to leak into the clear fluid inside the eye and can also cause the retina to detach.

Retinopathy occurs when the small blood vessels (called capillaries) in the retina become damaged. The retina, located at the back of the eye, sends visual images to the brain where they are perceived. Because the capillaries nourish the retina, retinopathy may lead to partial or complete vision loss.

There are many potential causes of retinopathy. The most common cause is high sugar levels in the blood caused by diabetes. Other causes include premature birth and high blood pressure. Some cases of retinopathy occur for unknown reasons.

The severity of retinopathy varies depending on the underlying cause. Some cases, such as retinopathy of prematurity, may go away without treatments. Others, such as diabetic retinopathy, are more likely to cause permanent vision loss.

Treatment for retinopathy depends on the underlying cause.

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