Diabetic retinopathy classification is a term used for individuals who suffer impaired vision resulting from damage to the retina as a complication of their diabetes mellitus. The retinopathy can occur as proliferative or nonproliferative, depending upon the presence or absence of atypical new blood vessels stemming from the retina. Retinal damage is normally secondary to another form of eye disease like vessel hemorrhage, neovascular glaucoma, retinal detachment, or macular edema, which is thickening and swelling of the retinal wall.

The majority of diabetics will endure some form of vision impairment over the course of their lifetime with the progression of their disease. In addition to type and duration of diabetes, factors such as how well their blood glucose, blood pressure, cholesterol, and serum lipid levels are controlled influence an individual’s susceptibility for diabetic retinopathy. According to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, upwards of 24,000 people who have diabetes …