Diabetic retinopathy is a disease of the eye caused by diabetics and is a leading cause of blindness.  It is caused when diabetes damages the tiny blood vessels inside the retina, which is the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye.  It usually affects both eyes, and has four stages with each one meaning the eye damage is worse than in the stage prior.  Anyone with diabetes is at risk including women who develop diabetes during pregnancy so every pregnant woman with diabetes should have a comprehensive dialated eye exam.  Yearly eye exams are crucial in diagnosing this disease which can be treated unless you have macula edema, so talk to your eye care professional today if you have diabetes and have not had your eyes checked in the past twelve months.