Diabetes doesn’t just hurt your blood sugar, but eventually it can destroy many parts of your body, including your eyes. Unfortunately, most individuals don’t realize how bad diabetic eye problems can get until their vision becomes cloudy or loses some functionality. Early diagnosis is important.
Whether you’ve had diabetes for many years or were recently diagnosed, learning about the relationship between eye and diabetes can enable you to act early and avoid permanent harm.
Why Does Diabetes Impact Your Eyes?
When your blood sugar is too high for an extended period of time, it damages your small blood vessels all over your body. In your eyes, those little vessels are very delicate. Too much sugar causes them to swell up, leak, or even close down completely. That can cause you to not get enough blood, and it damages the health of your retina—the part of your eye that allows you to see.
It is this harm that doctors refer to as diabetic eye disease. It includes a variety of disorders such as diabetic retinopathy, diabetic macular edema, cataract, and glaucoma.
Read Also: How to Improve Eyesight Naturally? Eye Care TipsWhat Is Diabetic Retinopathy?
Diabetic retinopathy is the most common eye disease caused by diabetes. It happens when high blood glucose damages the blood vessels in the retina. The retina is the thin nerve layer at the back of your eye that holds the light and sends the pictures to your brain so that you are able to see.
There are two main stages:
- Non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR) – This is the first stage. The blood vessels in the retina become weak and start leaking, causing deposits or swelling. In this stage, you won’t have any symptoms.
- Proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) – This is the more advanced stage. New, abnormal blood vessels start developing on the surface of the retina. These new vessels are weak and tend to break, or bleed. This can lead to serious vision problems or even blindness.
What are the Early Signs of Diabetic Retinopathy?
The scary part is that you may not even know that your eyesight is changing at the early stages of diabetic retinopathy. That is why eye tests are so important. However, there are some early warning signs that may indicate a problem:
- Blurred vision – A common symptom, most often caused by fluid seeping into the lens or macula.
- Floaters in your vision – Tiny black spots or strands that seem to move through your field of vision.
- Night blindness – Your eyesight can worsen in poor light or while driving at night.
- Black or missing areas in your vision – Areas of your vision can be missing or pale.
- Sudden changes in your vision – Sudden loss of vision can be a sign of bleeding inside the eye.
If you notice any of these symptoms, don’t wait—get your eyes checked by an ophthalmologist right away.
What Is Diabetic Macular Edema?
The most severe complication of diabetic retinopathy is diabetic macular edema (DME). The macula is the part of the retina in the center of the eye that is used for clear, straight-ahead vision. If the blood vessels in the retina leak fluid into the macula, the macula will become swollen and thickened and be diabetic macular edema.
Symptoms of Diabetic Macular Edema:
- Wavy or blurry central vision
- Colors become washed out
- Reading or faces cannot be read
- Dark, empty space in the center of vision
Diabetic macular edema’s symptoms can change gradually or suddenly. If not treated, permanent vision loss results.
Can Diabetes Cause Sudden Vision Loss?
Yes, it can. Changes in vision do not always happen slowly. If one of the blood vessels in your eye bursts, sudden blurry vision or even total blindness in one eye can result. It is referred to as vitreous hemorrhage, when blood leaks into the jelly-like fluid inside your eye.
Warning signs to watch out for:
- Suddenly increased floaters
- A red or black shadow over part of your vision
- Sudden blurring or fogging of your vision
These may sound ominous, but quick treatment can prevent further damage. If you have diabetes and notice any sudden change in vision, get immediate emergency care.
Other Diabetic Eye Diseases
Aside from diabetic retinopathy and macular edema, there are other diabetic eye diseases you should know about:
1. Cataracts
People with diabetes are more likely to develop cataracts at an earlier age. Cataracts blur the eye’s lens, causing fuzzy vision, glare, and nighttime driving difficulties.
2. Glaucoma
Glaucoma is a result of high pressure inside the eye, which damages the optic nerve. Diabetes will double the risk of glaucoma. Without treatment, it can lead to permanent vision loss.
How Can You Protect Your Eyes from Diabetic Damage?
Taking care of your eyes when you have diabetes is simply a matter of regular check-ups and good general management of your health. Here’s how:
- Manage Your Blood Sugar
Keeping your blood sugar in the target range reduces your risk of symptoms of diabetic eye disease. Work with your doctor to control your glucose levels.
- Check Your Blood Pressure and Cholesterol
High blood pressure and poor cholesterol also damage the tiny blood vessels in the eyes. Controlling them will reduce your risk of eye complications.
- Get a Dilated Eye Exam Every Year
Even if you feel fine, a dilated retinal exam can detect early changes in diabetic retinopathy or macular edema before they damage your vision.
- Quit Smoking
Smoking damages blood vessels and makes diabetic complications, including those in the eyes, worse.
- Exercise Regularly
Exercise enhances blood flow, including to your eyes. It also helps control blood sugar.
- Eat a Balanced Diet
Focus on foods healthy for your eyes and diabetes care: leafy greens, colorful vegetables, nuts, fish, and whole grains.
How are Diabetic Eye Problems Treated?
If problems are caught early, your eye care professional can offer treatments to avoid or slow damage. These may include:
- Laser Treatment
Laser therapy is used to halt or slow oozing blood vessels in macular edema and diabetic retinopathy.
- Injections
Medications called anti-VEGF are injected into the eye to reduce swelling and halt abnormal blood vessel growth.
- Vitrectomy
It is a surgery to drain blood from your eye’s middle if you have a vitreous hemorrhage.
Your individual situation and how early it is detected determine the right treatment.
How Frequently Should You Have Your Eyes Tested?
The frequency of eye test depends on type of diabetes. Such as person with:
- Type 1 diabetes: Get an eye test within 5 years of diagnosis and then annually.
- Type 2 diabetes: Have a full eye test at diagnosis and then annually.
- Pregnant women with diabetes: Have an eye test pre-pregnancy or in the first trimester and follow-up if necessary.
If you already have signs of eye disease caused by diabetes, more frequent visits with your physician may be advised.
Conclusion
Your eyes are worth the extra attention. Diabetes will not always cause pain in your eyes, but there may be permanent damage in quiet progress. Screening for blurry vision due to diabetes, floaters, or whatever other unusual symptom is the time to take early action.
With good sugar control, proper eye checkup, and healthy living, you can keep your eyes safe and keen despite having diabetes.
