Diabetic eye disorders are one of the first noticeable signs of a diabetic condition. To understand eye disorders it is important to have a basic understanding of the human eye. The curved clear area at the front of the eye is the cornea, which focuses light and protects the inner eye. Behind the cornea is the anterior chamber containing a protective liquid called the aqueous humor, followed by the pupil, lens, center of the eye, and retina. The retina is responsible for recording images and sending them to the brain as electrical signals. A specialized portion of the retina responsible for seeing details is the macula.

There are three types of diabetic eye disorders each affecting a different part of the eye. Glaucoma refers to pressure in the aqueous humor, anterior chambers, and blood vessels serving the retina and optic nerve. Cataracts are a clouding of the lens of the …