I'm 66 and was diagnosed as type 2 diabetic about five years ago. I’m in good health but told recently I have the early stages of retinopathy (damage to light sensitive tissue in back of the eye). How many years on average, with good diabetic control, does it take to develop further and start to affect eyesight?
With good diabetic control, there is a very high likelihood that you will never develop retinopathy to the point that it will affect your eyesight. As you note, it is critical that you maintain good diabetic control and that you see an ophthalmologist regularly for dilated retinal examinations.
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