Diabetes is a chronic condition that occurs when a person’s blood glucose is too high. It can be type 1, meaning the pancreas produces too little insulin, and glucose is high as a result, or it can be type 2, a condition in which the body struggles to regulate and use the glucose it produces efficiently.
Blood glucose, or blood sugar, fuels every single cell in the body. As a result, a disease like diabetes, which interferes with how blood glucose is produced, stored, and utilized, will increase a person’s risk for all sorts of other diseases – and that includes diabetic eye disease.
It’s estimated that more than 90% of diabetes-related vision loss can be prevented with early detection and treatment. So, how does diabetes affect eyesight – and how can you lower your risk of a serious eye illness like diabetic retinopathy? Here’s our quick guide to diabetic eye conditions and how they present.
The eye and the retina, in particular, are particularly vulnerable to damage from diabetes. That’s due to the tiny blood vessels that cycle oxygen and nutrients throughout the retinal structure. These blood vessels are incredibly sensitive to the effects of high blood sugar and can weaken, leak, or bleed if glucose is not properly managed.
There are four primary types of diabetic eye disease:
If you or a loved one have diabetes, it’s important that you’re aware of diabetic eye disease symptoms and that you seek help at the first sign something is wrong. Symptoms like:
The warning signs of a diabetic eye illness can be subtle at first. But the longer these diseases go on, the higher your risk for long-term complications. See an eye doctor right away about any concerns, and schedule an appointment with your endocrinologist as well, since eye problems are a sign your blood sugar is not well controlled.
Diabetic retinopathy is the most common eye complication caused by diabetes. It occurs through a damaging process that tends to occur gradually over a number of years:
These steps occur in two distinct stages – non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR, the early stage) and proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR, the more advanced stage). NPDR transitions into PDR when the eye begins to grow those new, weaker blood vessels.
Yes. Diabetes has a profound effect on eye health and function, potentially causing one or more of the diseases noted above, as well as swelling of the lens of the eye. Long-term effects are serious, debilitating, and incurable; however, treatment may be used to reverse certain symptoms and slow down the progression of the illness.
Diabetes is a tough disease to manage, even with clinical oversight. That being said, to protect your eyes, you must pay close attention to any signs of vision trouble and always speak with a physician right away about your concerns.
Various prevention and management techniques associated with these types of eye diseases include:
Want to speak with a retina specialist about high blood glucose and your eyes or about symptoms you might be experiencing? Learn about our Diabetic Retinopathy Center for Excellence, and schedule a consultation today with a highly experienced Mid Atlantic Retina physician.
