Diabetic retinopathy is when the small blood vessels in the retina start to leak blood or fluid in to the retina. In other patients abnormal new blood vessels grow on the surface of the retinal. Theses new blood vessels are very fragile and therefore they get easily damaged and leak blood into the retinal. Diabetic retinopathy is a vision-threatening damage to the eye and should be taken seriously. Many cases of diabetic retinopathy could be prevented with regular eye exams. If you have diabetes you must get a routine eye exam yearly to prevent complication of diabetic retinopathy.