Diabetes, a disease that prevents your body from making or using insulin to break
down sugar in your bloodstream, can affect your eyes and your vision.
Fluctuating or blurring of vision, intermittent double vision, loss of peripheral
vision and flashes and floaters within the eyes may be symptoms related to diabetes.
Sometimes the early signs of diabetes are detected during a thorough eye examination.
Diabetes can cause changes in nearsightedness and farsightedness and lead to
premature presbyopia (the inability to focus on close objects). It can result
in cataracts, glaucoma, a lack of eye muscle coordination (strabismus) and decreased
corneal sensitivity. The most serious eye problem associated with diabetes is
diabetic retinopathy, which, if not controlled, can lead to blindness.
What is retinopathy?
Diabetic retinopathy occurs when there is a weakening or swelling
of the tiny blood vessels in the retina of your eye, resulting in blood leakage,
the growth of new blood vessels and other changes
Can vision loss from diabetes be prevented?
Yes, in a routine eye examination, your eye care practitioner
can diagnose potential vision-threatening changes in your eyes that may be treated
to prevent blindness. However, once damage has occurred, the effects are usually
permanent. It is important to control your diabetes as much as possible to minimize
the risk of developing retinopathy.
How is diabetic retinopathy treated?
In the early stages, diabetic retinopathy can be treated with
laser therapy. A bright beam of light is focused on the retina, causing a burn
that seals off leaking blood vessels. In other cases, surgery inside the eye
may be necessary. Early detection of diabetic retinopathy is crucial. It is
routinely screened for in an eye examination.
Are there risk factors for developing retinopathy?
Several factors that increase the risk of developing retinopathy
include smoking, high blood pressure, excessive alcohol intake and pregnancy.
How can diabetes-related eye problems be prevented?
Diabetes-related eye problems can be prevented by monitoring and maintaining
control of your diabetes. See your physician regularly and follow instructions
about diet, exercise and medication. A thorough eye examination when first diagnosed
as a diabetic, at least annually thereafter, is recommended. | 