What is a common consequence of untreated diabetic retinopathy?

Complete blindness is a common consequence of untreated diabetic retinopathy due to the progressive nature of the disease. Diabetic retinopathy occurs when high blood sugar levels cause damage to the blood vessels in the retina, leading to leakage, bleeding, or the growth of abnormal new blood vessels. As the condition advances, it can severely affect vision and ultimately result in irreversible damage to the retina. If left untreated, this degeneration can progress to the point where individuals may experience complete vision loss in one or both eyes.

While color vision deficiency, macular degeneration, and glaucoma can affect individuals with diabetes, they are not direct consequences of diabetic retinopathy. Color vision deficiency relates more to genetic or age-related factors, macular degeneration primarily affects older adults and is not associated with diabetes, and glaucoma is caused by increased pressure in the eye, which can occur in conjunction with diabetes but is not a direct result of diabetic retinopathy. Thus, complete blindness stands out as a serious and direct outcome of the advanced stages of untreated diabetic retinopathy.