How Diabetes Can Affect Your Eye Health
September 25, 2024
Did you know that if you have diabetes, you are at a higher risk of developing eye diseases and vision loss? Diabetic retinopathy is the most common cause of vision loss for people with diabetes.
What is Diabetic Retinopathy?
Diabetic retinopathy occurs when high blood sugar damages the tiny blood vessels of the retina. The retina is a light-sensitive layer of tissue in the back of the eye that converts light into electrical signals and sends them to the brain to create images. Damage to the retina by diabetic retinopathy can lead to blurry vision, vision loss and even blindness. Diabetes can also increase the likelihood of developing other eye conditions, such as:
-
Cataracts - Having diabetes makes you 2 to 5 times more likely to develop cataracts, which is a clouding of the lens of the eye that distorts vision. It also makes you more likely to develop cataracts at a younger age.
-
Open-angle glaucoma - Diabetes nearly doubles your risk of developing a type of glaucoma called open-angle glaucoma, where fluid in the eye does not drain properly, increasing pressure in the eye and damaging vision.
Early detection of diabetic retinopathy and prompt treatment can help prevent vision loss.
Risk Factors
Anyone with Type 1, Type 2 or gestational diabetes (diabetes while pregnant) can develop diabetic retinopathy. The longer you have diabetes, the more likely you are to develop an eye condition. These additional factors can also increase your risk of diabetic retinopathy:
-
High blood sugar, blood pressure, and cholesterol levels
-
Smoking
-
Being a person of African, Hispanic/Latino, Native American or Native Alaskan decent
Symptoms
The early stages of diabetic retinopathy usually do not have any symptoms. Some people notice changes in their vision, like trouble reading or difficulty seeing objects far away. These changes may initially come and go.
This is why getting a comprehensive dilated eye exam at least once a year is important if you have diabetes. Early detection can help you take steps to protect your vision.
In the later stages of diabetic retinopathy, blood vessels in the retina start to bleed into the vitreous (gel-like fluid that fills your eye). If this happens, you may see dark, floating spots or streaks resembling cobwebs. Sometimes, the spots clear up on their own — but getting treatment right away is important. Without treatment, scars can form in the back of the eye, permanently damaging your vision. Blood vessels may also start to bleed again, or the bleeding may get worse.
Diagnosing Diabetic Retinopathy
Eye doctors can check for diabetic retinopathy as part of a dilated eye exam. The exam is simple and painless. Your doctor will give you some eye drops to dilate (widen) your pupil and then check your eyes for diabetic retinopathy and other eye problems.
If you have diabetes, getting regular eye exams is very important. If you develop diabetic retinopathy, early treatment can stop the damage and prevent blindness.
If your eye doctor thinks you have severe diabetic retinopathy, they may do a fluorescein angiogram test. This test lets the doctor see pictures of the blood vessels in your retina to determine the best course of treatment.
Preventing Diabetic Retinopathy
Managing your diabetes is the best way to lower your risk of diabetic retinopathy. That means keeping your blood sugar levels in a healthy range. You can do this by engaging in regular physical activity, eating healthy, and carefully following your doctor’s instructions for your insulin or other diabetes medications.
To make sure your diabetes treatment plan is working, you will need a particular lab test called an A1C test. This test shows your average blood sugar level over the past three months. You can work with your doctor to set a personal A1C goal. Meeting your A1C goal can help prevent or manage diabetic retinopathy.
Having high blood pressure or high cholesterol along with diabetes increases your risk for diabetic retinopathy. So, controlling your blood pressure and cholesterol can also help lower your risk of vision loss.
Have a dilated eye exam every year, and follow these steps to keep your health on TRACK:
T – Take your medications as prescribed by your doctor.
R – Reach and maintain a healthy weight.
A - Add more physical activity to your daily routine.
C – Control your ABC’s - A1C, Blood pressure and Cholesterol levels
K – Kick the smoking habit.
Treating Diabetic Retinopathy
Common treatment options
In the early stages of diabetic retinopathy, your eye doctor will most likely monitor how your eyes are doing. Some people with diabetic retinopathy may need a comprehensive dilated eye exam as often as every 2 to 4 months.
In later stages, starting treatment immediately is essential — especially if you have changes in your vision. While it won’t undo any damage to your vision, treatment can stop your vision from worsening. It’s also important to take steps to control your diabetes, blood pressure, and cholesterol.
-
Injections: Medicines called anti-VEGF drugs can slow down or reverse diabetic retinopathy. Other medicines, called corticosteroids, can also help treat the symptoms.
-
Laser treatments: To reduce swelling in your retina, eye doctors can use lasers to make the blood vessels shrink and stop leaking.
-
Eye surgery: If your retina is bleeding a lot or you have a lot of scars in your eye, your eye doctor may recommend a type of outpatient surgery called a vitrectomy.
Three Things to Remember About Diabetic Retinopathy
-
Diabetes can damage your eyes over time and cause vision loss or blindness.
-
Managing your diabetes can help to prevent or delay eye problems.
-
Regular eye exams help to diagnose eye problems early so you can get treatment and protect your eyesight.
Looking for help with managing your diabetes? Our team at TMH Physician Partners – Endocrinology, Obesity & Diabetes can help. Ask your primary care physician for a referral or give us a call at 850-431-5404.
