I also have (had) diabetic retinopathy, this was back in the early 1980's (I have been diabetic for 43 years) I had mulitple laser surgeries on both my left and right eyes at St. Michael's Hospital in Toronto and a vitrectomy surgery in 1984 in my right eye. I have had no need for further surgeries and my vision was 20/20 after all was said and done. I did not have to wear glasses until 1991 when I turned 30. At that time there was no gabapentin for me to use.