Diabetic Eye Disease: 8 Ways Diabetes Can Affect Your Eyes

Diabetes patients can experience an array of disease-related complications, many of which affect the eyes. In fact, studies have shown that high blood sugar levels can lead to significant eye problems, and diabetes is actually the most common cause of blindness in adults aged 20 to 74.

1. Diabetes can lead to blurry vision

Many people with diabetes will notice blurry vision, which is generally attributed to high blood sugar levels, as one of the first symptoms of the disease.

Due to the high concentration of sugar in your blood, the lenses of your eyes swell, impeding your ability to see. In order to get your normal vision back, you have to get your blood sugar levels under control and normalize them. Once you notice blurry vision and start managing your diabetes well, it could still take around three months for your vision to normalize. Talk to your eye doctor, who can check your eyes and make sure the problem is diabetes-related.

2. Diabetes leads to a risk of cataracts

Cataracts are a condition in which the lenses of your eyes become cloudy or start looking "dirty". While anyone can develop cataracts, especially as they age, people with diabetes have a higher likelihood of developing cataracts at a younger age and can also expect the condition to worsen faster. Cataracts impede your ability to see. Some symptoms of cataracts include seeing glares and blurry vision. To treat cataracts, you have to get surgery, which involves the doctor replacing the cloudy lens with an artificial lens.

3. Glaucoma and diabetes

Treatment for glaucoma includes medication to lower the pressure in the eye, increase drainage, and taking steps to reduce the amount of liquid in your eye. Some less common subtypes of glaucoma do present with symptoms earlier on, and they can include headaches, eye aches, blurry vision, water eyes, halos, and vision loss. Treatments can also include surgery, laser treatment, and special eye drops.

4. Neovascular glaucoma and diabetes

Diabetes sufferers are also more likely to fall victim to a rare disease known as neovascular glaucoma, which makes new blood vessels develop on a part of the eye, in turn blocking the regular flow of fluid and increasing eye pressure. Treatment for neovascular glaucoma includes laser treatment to reduce the number of blood vessels and anti-VEGF injections, which lower eye pressure.

5. Diabetic retinopathy

People who live with diabetes often sustain significant damage to their blood vessels, including the blood vessels of the retina — the part of the eye that takes in light and turns it into images. This damage occurs as a direct result of high blood sugar levels.

Therefore, the longer you have diabetes, the higher the risk that you will develop diabetic retinopathy. If you manage your diabetes well and keep your blood sugar levels under control, your risk of developing diabetic retinopathy is lowered significantly. Unless you receive timely treatment for this condition, there is chance you can go blind from diabetic retonipathy.  

6. Diabetes can cause background retinopathy

Background retinopathy is a condition in which the blood vessels of your eyes are damaged, but your vision is still normal. Background retinopathy occurs when you develop microaneurysms (swelling and bulging of small blood vessels) of your retina.

This condition can cause your vision to deteriorate if you don’t manage your diabetes well. When there are only a small number of microaneurysms, your vision will not be affected by background retinopathy. However, when the number of microaneurysms grows, your vision can be negatively affected. Fortunately, retinopathy can be treated and therefore, it is important that you go for regular screenings.

7. Maculopathy: A complication of diabetes

Maculopathy is a disease that affects the macula, a region of your retina that allows you to engage in activities like reading, driving, and other similar things. Maculopathy refers to damage the macula, which leads to swelling. In some instances, the swelling is easy to treat while in other cases, it can be difficult to manage maculopathy. Diabetics are more likely to develop maculopathy than healthy individuals.

8. Proliferative retinopathy as a result of diabetes

Proliferative retinopathy is a condition in which the blood vessels are damaged and the cells at the back of your eye are no longer getting the oxygen and nutrients they need. This causes new blood vessels to develop in compensation, but they can be fragile, bleed, and clot.

Additionally, proliferative retinopathy can cause scar tissue development and pull the retina away from the back of the eye. Once the retina detaches, the condition can lead to irreversible vision loss. Treatments for proliferative retinopathy include surgery and laser treatment that removes the newly formed blood vessels and helps prevent blindness.

Conclusion