How Soon Can Diabetic Retinopathy Develop?
FEB 26, 2014
Question:
My 10-year-old daughter was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes (a disease in which the body doesn't process sugar correctly) this past Christmas day. The last three days she has said her eye actually hurts. I cannot see any culprit for this, nor is there redness or a current illness that could be causing it. Can she have non-proliferative retinopathy (a form of eye disease resulting from diabetes) this soon?
Answer:
No. It typically requires a minimum of five years, and often longer, before any signs of diabetic retinopathy develop. The current recommendations for people with type 1 diabetes suggest a complete eye examination at five years after diagnosis. Furthermore, diabetic retinopathy is painless so if the pain continues she should see an ophthalmologist for a complete eye examination.