How can Diabetes affect your eyes?

Diabetes occurs when your body does not properly process food as energy. When you have Diabetes, your body either does not respond to or does not produce insulin, which is a hormone that delivers glucose (blood sugar) to the cells in your body. Having too much glucose in the bloodstream, outside the cells where it belongs, can lead to damage of the blood vessels and nerves that run throughout your body, including to the eyes.

 

Diabetes can lead to blurry vision in several ways. Sometimes it is a minor problem that you can simply sort out by stabilizing your blood sugar or using eye drops. Other times, it is more serious and needs you to discuss with your health practitioner.  But ultimately blurred sight is often one of the first warning signs of Diabetes.

Blurry vision means it is more difficult to make out fine details in what you are seeing.  Several causes can start with Diabetes, as it may be a sign your glucose levels are not in the correct range - either too low or too high.

The reason your sight blurs may be fluid leaking into the lens of your eye. This makes the lens swell and change shape. Those changes make it hard for your eyes to focus, so things start to look fuzzy.

You may also get blurred vision when you start insulin treatment. This is due to shifting fluids, but it generally resolves after a few weeks. For many people, as blood sugar levels stabilize, so does their vision.

 

Diabetic Retinopathy

Causes of blurry vision in the longer term can include Diabetic Retinopathy, a term that describes retinal disorders caused by Diabetes. The stages of Diabetic Retinopathy include:

 

Stage 1: mild non proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy

Stage 2: moderate non proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy

Stage 3: severe non proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy

Stage 4: proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy

 

Most people don’t show symptoms of Diabetic Retinopathy until it has progressed to stage 4. Symptoms at this stage include:

blurry vision

eye floaters

difficulty seeing at night

loss of vision

distorted vision

color changes in vision

While Diabetic Retinopathy can’t be reversed, it can be stabilized with treatment.

 

Hyperglycaemia results from glucose building up in the blood when the body lacks enough insulin to process it.

 

Besides blurred vision, other symptoms of Hyperglycaemia include:

headache

fatigue

increased thirst and urination

Managing your glucose levels to avoid hyperglycaemia is important because, over time, poor blood sugar control can lead to more problems with sight and potentially increase the risk of irreversible blindness.

 

Cataracts

You might also have blurry vision if you’re developing cataracts. People with Diabetes tend to develop cataracts at a younger age than other adults. Cataracts cause the lens of your eyes to become cloudy.

 

Other symptoms include:

faded colors

clouded or blurry vision

double vision, usually in just one eye

sensitivity to light

glare or halos around lights

vision that doesn’t improve with new glasses or a prescription that must be changed often

Glaucoma

Blurry vision can also be a symptom of glaucoma, a disease in which pressure in your eye damages the optic nerve. According to the National Eye Institute Trusted Source, if you have Diabetes, your risk of glaucoma is double that of other adults.

 

Other symptoms of glaucoma may include:

loss of peripheral vision or tunnel vision

halos around lights

reddening of the eyes

ocular (eye) pain

nausea or vomiting

Macular Edema

The macula is the center of the retina, and it’s the part of the eye that gives you sharp central vision.

Macular Edema is when the macula swells due to leaking fluid. Other symptoms of Macular Edema include wavy vision and color changes.

Diabetic Macular Edema (DME) stems from Diabetic Retinopathy. It usually affects both eyes.

 

Eye care and eye disease prevention

If you have Diabetes, you’re at increased risk for a variety of eye problems. It’s important to manage your blood sugar, follow all medications and directions for testing, and have regular checkups and eye exams. This should include a comprehensive eye exam with dilation every year.

Be sure to tell your doctor about all of your symptoms, as well as all the medications you take.

Other ways you can help prevent eye problems caused by Diabetes include:

Control your blood sugar. Your doctor can provide direction on how to keep your blood sugar normal and avoid fluctuations that can lead to diabetic eye diseases.  In addition to getting your eyes checked, it’s also very important to keep the blood sugars under control, this is not only good for you overall, but also good for your eyes.

Lower your blood pressure and cholesterol. Get recommendations from your doctor on ways you can combat high blood pressure and cholesterol, because these can worsen diabetic eye disease.

Avoid harmful rays. Protect yourself from the sun’s harmful ultraviolet rays by wearing sunglasses. Exposure to these rays can speed up the progression of cataracts.

Stop smoking. Smoking can cause further damage to your blood vessels, including the ones in your eyes, so it’s very important to stop smoking.

 

In Summary

Blurred vision can be a minor problem with a quick fix, such as eye drops or a new prescription for your eyeglasses.

However, it can also indicate a serious eye disease or an underlying condition other than Diabetes. That’s why you should report blurry vision and other vision changes to your HealthCare Practitioner

In many cases, early treatment can correct the problem or prevent it from getting worse.  So get your eyes checked today!

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