Which condition is caused by damaged retinal blood vessels in people with diabetes?

Which condition is caused by damaged retinal blood vessels in people with diabetes?

• A. Night Blindness
• B. Diabetic Retinopathy
• C. Subconjunctival Hemmorhage
• D. Glaucoma

Answer: (B)

Diabetic retinopathy is caused by damage to the retinal blood vessels from long-standing diabetes. Chronic high blood glucose weakens and injures the tiny vessels in the retina, leading to leakage, swelling, and microaneurysms in the early stages. As damage progresses, some vessels close off, causing retinal ischemia and prompting the growth of new, fragile vessels that can bleed and scar, ultimately risking vision. This pattern of vascular injury is unique to diabetes and explains why vision can deteriorate even without other eye problems. Night blindness results from rod dysfunction due to vitamin A deficiency, a subconjunctival hemorrhage is a superficial bleed under the conjunctiva not involving the retina, and glaucoma is optic nerve damage usually linked to elevated intraocular pressure rather than direct retinal vessel damage.

Diabetic retinopathy is caused by damage to the retinal blood vessels from long-standing diabetes. Chronic high blood glucose weakens and injures the tiny vessels in the retina, leading to leakage, swelling, and microaneurysms in the early stages. As damage progresses, some vessels close off, causing retinal ischemia and prompting the growth of new, fragile vessels that can bleed and scar, ultimately risking vision. This pattern of vascular injury is unique to diabetes and explains why vision can deteriorate even without other eye problems. Night blindness results from rod dysfunction due to vitamin A deficiency, a subconjunctival hemorrhage is a superficial bleed under the conjunctiva not involving the retina, and glaucoma is optic nerve damage usually linked to elevated intraocular pressure rather than direct retinal vessel damage.