Table of Contents
Introduction
Diabetes affects several parts of the body. Our eyes are especially vulnerable to the damage caused by high blood sugar levels. If it is not controlled, diabetes can harm the small blood vessels that are inside the retina. Unfortunately, this can lead to a whole host of serious vision conditions like blurry vision, loss of vision, or even blindness. An understanding of the ways diabetes affects vision health is key to protecting your eyesight and taking the recommended steps to prevent serious complications.
Many of the risks we associate with diabetic eye disease can be lessened with early detection, good management, and regular vision care. In this blog, we’ll explore the most common diabetic vision issues to be aware of and how high blood sugar levels can impact your vision. We’ll point out the warning signs, treatments, and proactive steps you can take to help preserve your vision. As long as you continue to be proactive, you can control your vision and keep your eyesight clear for many years.
What Is the Connection Between Diabetes and Eye Health?
Diabetes can significantly impact your vision because the small blood vessels that supply your eyes are affected by high blood sugar levels. As more time elapses, the excessively high blood sugar levels can weaken or damage the blood vessels in the retina, the light-sensitive tissue found at the back of the eye. Conditions known as diabetic eye disease can include diabetic retinopathy, diabetic macular edema, cataracts, and glaucoma. These conditions all develop slowly and, if not treated, can cause very serious eye conditions or blindness.
If you are diabetic, keeping blood sugar levels under control is one of the best ways to keep your eyes protected. As long as glucose levels, blood pressure, and cholesterol levels stay within normal ranges, the progression of damage to your vision can be slowed. For this reason, it is important to have regular comprehensive eye exams because they can detect changes in your eyes even before symptoms start to show, and treatment is most effective at the early stages.
What Are the Most Common Diabetic Eye Conditions?
2. Diabetic Macular Edema
How Do High Blood Sugar Levels Affect Vision?
Higher than normal blood glucose levels can cause both temporary as well as long-term changes to vision. As blood sugar levels fluctuate, the eye’s lens can swell, causing blurry vision or vision that seems distorted. As soon as glucose levels are back to normal levels, vision usually stabilizes. That being said, having these fluctuations frequently will contribute to damage over time.
Elevated blood glucose levels are harmful to the retina’s small blood vessels that process light and images. When these small blood vessels get blocked or start leaking fluid, it can lead to diabetic retinopathy and other serious issues that can cause permanent loss of vision if left untreated.
What Are the Warning Signs of Diabetic Eye Disease?
There are various warning signs of diabetic eye disease depending on the condition. However, there are a few obvious ones to be aware of. When vision seems blurry or fluctuating, that is one of the early warning signs. It is caused by fluctuations in glucose levels or retinal swelling. Dark spots, floaters, or streaks in one’s vision can indicate bleeding or fluid leaking in the eye. Difficulty with night vision or light sensitivity is also a sign of diabetic eye complications. In cases that are more severe, there may be a sudden loss of vision or even partial blindness. These require immediate medical attention. As we said before, because many of these diabetic eye issues develop gradually, they may not be noticeable early on. Having regularly scheduled complete vision examinations is crucial for picking up on these changes before there is any serious vision damage.
How Can Regular Eye Exams Help Prevent Vision Loss?
During a regularly scheduled complete eye examination, your eye doctor can find the early indications of diabetic retinopathy, macular edema, glaucoma, and cataracts before they are apparent. Early detection enables early treatments like laser treatments, injections, or medication. These interventions can slow or even stop the progression of these conditions and reduce the risk of permanent vision loss to a great extent.
If you have diabetes, it is important to have your eyes checked regularly to track changes as time passes. These eye exams also ensure that your treatment plans are working. During these exams, you will have dilated retinal imaging and other advanced tests that give a detailed look at the blood vessels and retina, thus making it easier to pick up on small changes. Along with good blood sugar levels and managing blood pressure and cholesterol, regular comprehensive eye exams give you the ability to protect your vision and keep your eyes healthy.
What Can You Do to Protect Your Eyes If You Have Diabetes?
What Treatments Are Available for Diabetic Eye Disease?
The available treatments for diabetic eye disease depend upon the particular condition as well as its severity. When someone has early-stage diabetic retinopathy or diabetic macular edema, the first choice of treatment involves management of blood glucose, blood pressure, and cholesterol levels to slow down the progression of the disease. Some medications can lower retinal swelling, like anti-VEGF injections, which, by lessening retinal swelling, can prevent more vision loss. Corticosteroid injections can also be used to lower inflammation. These non-surgical treatments are generally effective if eye disease is discovered early.
In cases where diabetic eye disease is more advanced, procedural interventions are necessary. Laser therapy is used to help seal blood vessels that are leaking and can reduce abnormal growth in one’s retina. This therapy can help prevent additional damage. When a situation is more severe, a surgical procedure called vitrectomy is performed to remove blood or scar tissue. This intervention might prevent further damage. If a cloudy lens is affecting your eyesight, then cataract surgery could be recommended. In general, if you are diabetic, early detection and prompt treatment are necessary to preserve your vision and keep your eyes healthy.
How Can Golden Vision Help You Treat Eyes Affected by Diabetes?
Here at Golden Vision, our experienced team specializes in complete vision care for our patients who are diabetic. Our team of doctors can identify conditions like diabetic retinopathy, macular edema, and glaucoma before they cause major loss of vision. By detecting these problems at the early stages, we can recommend the treatments that are most effective, and we will monitor your progress closely.
At our clinic, we use a whole host of treatment options according to our patients’ needs. These treatments can include anti-VEGF injections, laser therapy, and surgical interventions if or when necessary. Here at Golden Vision, we stress patient education and continuing care so that you can manage your diabetes to protect your long-term vision health and preserve your eyesight.
Reach out to Golden Vision and book an appointment for personalized advice and support tailored to your unique needs.