What is Diabetic Retinopathy?

Jon Schorsch is a former Port of Seattle Police sergeant and church deacon who recently acquired a juris doctor and a master in public administration from Seattle University. As an attorney, Jon Schorsch has completed programs at the King County Department of Public Defense and the Starbucks Corporation Diversity Mentorship Program. Currently, he serves as a mediator at the Volunteers of America Dispute Resolution Center in Washington.

Outside of his professional work, Mr. Schorsch actively supports charities, including the United Way and Sight Connection, where he served on the board of directors. Sight Connection is a community service organization that helps individuals with vision impairments maintain their independence. The organization also sells a variety of supports and resources to alleviate issues associated with vision loss, which is commonly a result of medical conditions, such as cataracts, glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration, and diabetic retinopathy.

Diabetic retinopathy is an eye disease that occurs when high blood sugar levels in people with diabetes cause blood vessels in the retina to become damaged. There are two stages of diabetic retinopathy. The first stage, non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR), causes macula swelling, tiny blood vessel leaks, and a condition called macular ischemia, which causes blood vessels to close off. 

The second stage, proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR), occurs when the condition has advanced beyond NDPR. The retina grows new blood vessels that result in bleeding that can block vision and cause scar tissue. In severe cases, PDR can lead to problems, including blindness, macula issues, and detached retinas.

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