Q. What is diabetic eye disease?

Diabetic eye disease is an umbrella term for several eye conditions caused by diabetes, most importantly diabetic retinopathy and diabetic macular edema. Chronically elevated blood sugar damages the small blood vessels feeding the retina, causing them to leak fluid and blood, or to close off entirely and trigger abnormal new vessel growth. At Nunehim Eye Center, we see a steady stream of diabetic patients from across Guro, Yeongdeungpo, Gasan, and Gwanak whose retinopathy was found only because of a routine screening — not because they noticed any change in vision.

Q. What are the symptoms and warning signs?

• Blurred or fluctuating vision, often worse when blood sugar is unstable
• Dark spots or “floaters” drifting across your visual field
• Difficulty seeing at night or in dim lighting
• Colors appearing faded or washed out
• Sudden vision loss, which can signal vitreous hemorrhage or retinal detachment — a same-day emergency

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

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