Diabetes is a common disease in the United States. You probably know someone who has diabetes, or you might have it yourself. Many people know that diabetes can hurt the nerves, kidneys, and heart. But did you know it can also damage your eyes? Diabetes can cause eye problems that may lead to vision loss or even blindness.
There are several eye problems that people with diabetes can get. These include diabetic retinopathy, diabetic macular edema, cataracts, and glaucoma.
- Diabetic retinopathy happens when high blood sugar damages the blood vessels in the back part of your eye, called the retina. The retina helps you see by sending signals to your brain. If you have diabetic retinopathy, you might notice blurry vision, dark spots or lines (called floaters), trouble seeing at night, or things looking strange.
- Diabetic macular edema is when the middle part of the retina, called the macula, gets swollen. The macula helps you see things clearly and read small print. If you have this problem, the center of your vision may be blurry, and it may be hard to read or see details.
- Cataracts are when the lens in your eye gets cloudy, making it hard to see. It’s like when your car’s headlights get foggy and don’t shine as well.
- Glaucoma is when fluid builds up in your eye and puts pressure on the nerve that helps you see. If this pressure isn’t treated, it can cause permanent vision loss.
How does diabetes cause these problems? High blood sugar can hurt the tiny blood vessels in your eyes. This can make them leak fluid or swell, which damages important parts of your eye and makes it harder to see.
The tricky thing about diabetic eye disease is that it often starts without any symptoms. You might not notice anything is wrong until the problem is serious. That’s why it’s important to get your eyes checked every year. You can get a special eye exam called a dilated eye exam at an optometrist’s or eye doctor’s office. You usually don’t need a referral to see an optometrist, but you might need one to see an eye doctor.
There are ways to help prevent diabetic eye disease. The most important things are to eat healthy foods, exercise, and avoid smoking. You should also take your diabetes medicine as your doctor tells you. Even if you already have eye problems from diabetes, there are treatments that can help. These include laser treatments, medicine injections, and sometimes surgery.
Diabetic eye disease is serious, but you can often prevent it. Getting regular eye exams and taking care of your diabetes are the best ways to protect your vision. If you or someone you know has diabetes, make sure to get a dilated eye exam every year and take steps to keep your eyes healthy.
Dr. Gideon Oyekanmi is a resident physician who sees patients of all ages and provides obstetrical services at Lone Star Family Health Center, a non-profit 501©3 Federally Qualified Health Center operating facilities in Conroe, Spring, Willis, Grangerland, and Huntsville, and serving as home to a fully integrated Family Medicine Residency Program to increase the number of Family Medicine physicians for Texas and our community.
