If you have diabetes, you have a greater risk of developing certain eye diseases. By understanding what may occur, you can watch out for the signs and symptoms of the conditions. That way, you can seek prompt treatment, potentially preserving your vision.
Here’s a look at five ways diabetes can affect your vision.
1. Blurriness
When most people experience blurry vision, they assume new prescription lenses are a necessity. However, if you have diabetes, blurriness might be a sign that your blood sugar is too high.
High blood sugar can cause lens swelling. Once that happens, it alters your visual acuity, often resulting in blurriness. Usually, the blurry vision is temporary. After your blood sugar gets back into the normal range, the swelling should decrease, allowing you to see clearly again.
If the blurriness happens when your blood sugar is within your target range or doesn’t clear up after your blood sugar drops, schedule an appointment with your doctor. That way, they can make sure it isn’t a symptom of another condition.
2. Cataracts
As people age, tissues within the eye can break down. The material can start clumping when that happens, creating cataracts that cloud the lens and reduce visual acuity.
Cataracts are a common condition. Many people develop them over the course of their life, particularly as they get into their golden years. However, they tend to happen earlier in individuals with diabetes. Additionally, cases in diabetics are often more severe.
If your vision seems cloudy, see your eye doctor. They can determine if cataracts are the cause and, if so, select the best course of action.
3. Glaucoma
Glaucoma is a condition where pressure builds up in the eye. Along with altering your vision, glaucoma may damage blood vessels and nerves.
People with diabetes are more likely to develop glaucoma. Since symptoms often aren’t noticeable until the condition is severe, seeing your eye doctor regularly is a must. That allows them to look for changes indicating you have glaucoma, giving them a chance to intervene before you have significant vision loss.
4. Diabetic Retinopathy
Diabetic retinopathy is a medical condition where blood vessels in the retina weaken, causing leaks and fluid build-up. As the disease progresses, ischemia can occur, leading to the growth of abnormal blood vessels.
As fluids continue leaking into the vitreous of the eye, tractional retinal detachment can occur. If that happens, severe and potentially permanent vision loss can occur.
5. Macular Edema
The macula is a portion of your eye that’s located in the center of the retina. If you have diabetic retinopathy, fluid can leak into the macula, and blood vessels can press into it. This causes the macula to swell, resulting in a condition called macular edema.
Often, as macular edema progresses, visual acuity declines. The most common symptoms include wavy or fuzzy vision, preventing you from seeing clearly.
Ultimately, proper eye care is essential for people with diabetes. By seeing your eye doctor regularly, they can monitor for changes that may indicate one of the conditions above, allowing them to intervene quickly.
At ECVA, we take the health of our patients’ eyes seriously. If you have diabetes and haven’t had an eye exam recently, we are here to help. Schedule an appointment at your closest ECVA clinic today.
