Diabetes and vision are directly linked with each other in many aspects. In fact, blurry vision can be the first sign of having diabetes. High blood sugar in your body can cause glucose absorption in the eye lenses, resulting in vision changes. Those who are suffering from uncontrolled diabetes should have regular visits to the eye clinic, as the high sugar levels in the blood can eventually lead to blindness.
What Is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a group of metabolic disorders that occurs as a result of high blood sugar levels over a long period of time. This is either due to insufficient insulin production from the pancreas or body cells not responding to the ones that are already produced. There are three main types of diabetics; type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes, and gestational diabetes.
In type1 diabetes symptoms such as increased hunger, excessive thirst, frequent urination, and weight loss can be seen. In type 2 diabetes, however, the symptoms may be less visible or absent. Blurred vision, headaches, itchy skin, slow healing cuts, and fatigue are a few more signs that can mark the onset of this disease.
Diabetic Eye Diseases
- Diabetes Retinopathy is a medical disorder where the blood vessels in the retina get affected causing vision loss or even blindness. It has been identified as a leading cause of blindness in many countries. Studies state that 80% of the individuals who have had diabetes over 20 years get affected by this condition.
- Macular Edema is a condition that is caused due to chronic or uncontrolled diabetes where fluid gets collected on or under the macula of the eye causing it to thicken and swell distorting the central vision. It is commonly associated with diabetes where peripheral blood vessels get affected leaking fluid, blood, and fat causing the retina to swell.
- Proliferative Retinopathy is caused as a result of the aberrant flow of blood to the retina where the new blood vessels start to grow giving a lack of oxygen to the eye. These blood vessels are weak and fragile where it can break and lead to blood clots. This can pull the retina from the back of the eye and also cause scars. If it gets detached permanent vision loss can occur.
- Glaucoma is another medical issue that can be caused due to diabetes. This happens as a result of retinopathy, where the abnormal blood vessel tends to block the natural drainage of the eye. When this happens the fluid becomes trapped inside the eye and causes pressure passing it to the nerve end of the eye resulting in nerve damage.
- Cataracts are a vision problem that occurs with cloudy eye lenses due to the formation of protein clumps. Even though the exact relation between diabetes and cataracts has not been found yet researchers think that high glucose levels cause deposits in the eye lens. According to ophthalmologists, 60% of people with diabetes face a greater risk of developing cataracts at an early age.
Distinguish Symptoms
Some of the common symptoms of diabetic eye disease that can be noticed are blurred vision, eye aches, headaches, watery eyes, glare or halos around lights, and double vision in one eye. In addition to these, frequent changes in vision or having to change glasses dramatically, poor color vision, and flashes of light can also be observed.
Diabetes Prevention
Managing your diabetes is the best way to prevent these eye diseases from being diagnosed. Consultation of eye specialists and regular visits to eye clinics, monitoring blood sugar levels, and paying attention to your vision will help you to prevent diabetic eye diseases from the start. Eye specialists advise to check up on a comprehensive eye exam with dilation every year, especially for those who have diabetes. Our team of experts at the Spanish Eye Clinic has the finest eye specialists that can help diagnose your condition at the earliest and treat it as soon as possible to ensure you continue a healthy life.
