People with diabetes are unfortunately at a higher risk for numerous diabetic eye diseases which can lead to severe vision loss and sometimes even blindness.
Diabetic retinopathy is an eye disease that damages the blood vessels in the retina, and usually affects both eyes. Diabetic retinopathy can affect people with Type I and Type II diabetes.
Macular degeneration is an eye disease associated with aging that gradually destroys sharp, central vision. It affects the macula, the part of the eye that allows you to see fine detail. Macular degeneration does not cause pain and in some cases, the disease advances so slowly that people notice little change in their vision. In others, the disease progresses faster and may lead to a loss of vision in one or both eyes.