Type 1 diabetes in adults: diagnosis and management

Eye damage

Type 1 diabetes means you are more likely to have an eye problem called retinopathy.

Your diabetes care team should talk with you about retinopathy, and explain the problems you might have if your eyes are affected. It is important to have regular eye screening checks for retinopathy. These are different from normal sight tests and look specifically for early signs of damage caused by diabetes.

Your eyes should be checked at or around the time you are diagnosed with type 1 diabetes and, if everything seems fine, at least once a year from then on. If there are signs that damage may be developing, you will be offered another check, or may be referred to an eye specialist at a hospital.