The duration of blindness in patients with diabetic eye disease varies from person to person, and not all patients with diabetic eye disease will go blind, depending on the duration of their diabetes and their blood glucose control.
Diabetic patients need to be screened regularly for retinopathy. If the patient’s blood glucose is well controlled over time and there is only mild fundus retinopathy, then the patient’s vision can be maintained for decades or more with active treatment, and he or she will not usually go blind.
If the patient’s retinopathy is severe, with fundus hemorrhage, exudation, and neovascularization, the patient’s vision will decline rapidly, and if not treated in time, the patient may go blind in a relatively short period of time.
Therefore, patients with diabetic eye disease should focus on controlling blood glucose, maintaining a low blood glucose level, and conducting regular fundus retinopathy screening for early detection and intervention to prolong the time to blindness.
Diabetic patients with eye discomfort are advised to seek prompt medical attention to assess their condition and follow medical advice.