The early form of diabetic retinopathy is called background retinopathy. With background retinopathy, long-term elevated blood sugar levels damage the blood vessels in the retina. The first change generally observed is bulges in the capillaries of the retina, i.e. microaneurysms. Small bleeds and swelling in the retina may also occur at this stage.
Background retinopathy does not usually cause symptoms and generally does not require treatment.
Background retinopathy does not yet pose a threat to vision, but it can develop into the more serious forms of retinopathy that can prove harmful to vision. The progression of the disease can be slowed or even halted with good diabetes management.
Regular fundus photography is important so that any changes can be spotted in time.