Retinal detachment is a medical emergency and for the diabetic that suffers from this condition as a complication of their diabetes management the surgery that is normally done to save vision might not be able to accomplish this. Retinal detachment is caused when the retina pulls away from the underlying choroid, which is a thin layer of blood vessels. This is where the problem is for the diabetic, because when this occurs it is normally due to the blood vessels having been damaged by lack of blood supply.

When retinal detachment occurs the retinal cells are deprived of oxygen and the longer this occurs there is a greater risk of permanent vision loss. In the case of diabetics often surgery will not help this condition because the blood vessels are damaged.