How Does Diabetes Affect My Eyes?

For the most part, diabetes is an internal condition, meaning it primarily affects the organs and blood. However, having diabetes can also have an effect on your eyes and vision.

Diabetic retinopathy is the medical term used to describe eye problems caused by high blood sugar levels. It is more common among seniors or adults who have had diabetes for more than 30 years; however, any person with diabetes can be at risk. Because of this, diabetic eye care has become an increasingly important issue for people with diabetes to consider in their treatment.

Like elsewhere in the body, having high blood sugars makes cells considerably weaker. The eyes are no exception; blood vessels around the retinas, the part of the eyes that sense light, can easily become damaged from high glucose content in the blood. Once they weaken, they begin to swell and eventually start to clog the pathway that light enters through, leading to a number of symptoms such as:

• Blurry or double vision
• Seeing rings, flashing lights, or floating spots
• Seeing near-complete darkness
• Difficulty seeing out of the corner of eyes

Prevention and treatments are available for diabetic retinopathy. Whether you are at risk for eye problems or need to treat a growing condition, diabetic eye care is available in any situation.

Ways to Practice Diabetic Eye Care

In many ways, diabetic eye care is simply a matter of taking good care of your diabetes. Constant monitoring of blood sugar levels, taking medication to stabilize blood sugar, and receiving regular eye exams are the best ways to take care of your eyes and your diabetes.

If your doctor has determined that you are at risk for diabetic retinopathy, you will need to see an eye specialist and have a thorough eye exam done. This normally involves dilating your pupils so that the eye examiner can see the back of the eyes for any blockage.

Make sure that the eye examiner checks for other eye problems, such as cataracts and glaucoma. These can happen whether or not you are diabetic, based on your medical history and lifestyle habits.

A cataract is when a hazy cloud covers the lens of the eyes. This makes your vision blurry, making it difficult to see things clearly. Glaucoma is a condition where pressure begins building up around the eyes. If left untreated, it could cause damage to your optic nerve, leading to a loss of sight. Although these conditions are not limited to people with diabetes, they have a higher risk of occurring, particularly in children and especially in those that do not receive proper diabetic eye care at a young age.

To keep diabetic retinopathy from happening, stay on top of your diabetes through blood sugar monitoring, medication, and lifestyle habits. Avoid smoking and other activity that could harm the quality of your blood cells. Receive regular eye exams to make sure no buildup or pressure is occurring around the retinas or optic nerve. Finding early signs of these means you can treat it in time, whether it's through prescription eye drops or laser treatment.