What Happens To Your Eyes With Diabetes?

What Happens To Your Eyes With Diabetes

Sadly, diabetes isn’t just a chronic degenerative disease characterized by abnormally high blood glucose levels. The metabolic disease also has serious complications, including partial to complete vision loss.

Blurry Vision from Diabetes

Blurry vision is a common effect of untreated or unmanaged diabetes. But instead of getting new eyeglasses to correct your blurry vision, you should consult with your doctor. A high blood sugar level can cause your vision issues and, in turn, causes your lenses to swell.

Your doctor will discuss practical ways to get your blood sugar within your target range. Your target range can vary depending on your age, physical condition, and type of diabetes. But the normal range is between 70 and 130 milligrams per decilitre (mg/dL) before meals and less than 180 mg/dL about one to two hours after a meal.

You have to be patient with your blood sugar reduction plan since it can take as long as three months. But over time, your blurry vision will return to normal if you don’t have other vision problems like cataracts.   

Diabetic Retinopathy from Diabetes

Diabetic retinopathy is caused by the damage to the retina’s tiny blood vessels, partly due to the accumulation of sugar crystals. A retina is a group of cells located at the back of each eye, which take in light and turn it into an image. The optic nerve then sends the image to the brain for processing.  

You have to consult your eye doctor about it as early as possible. If you don’t, your chances of going blind increase. On the other hand, if you keep your blood sugar managed well, your risks decrease.  

Glaucoma from Diabetes

Glaucoma is the build-up of pressure inside your eye because it can’t drain fluids as well as it should under normal circumstances—the result: Damaged nerves and blood vessels resulting in vision changes.  

Fortunately, your eye doctor can treat glaucoma in most cases. He’ll prescribe medications and monitor your development to reduce the amount of fluid in your eyes.

Cataracts

Cataracts are cloudy lenses that prevent the eyes from focusing as well as they should. As a result, you will be unable to see well because of them, and people with diabetes tend to develop them earlier and faster.

Your eye doctor will likely recommend laser treatments or surgery to remove cataracts. Your vision will improve afterward, barring any complications.

These eye complications emphasize the need for regular eye doctor visits, such as an eye clinic in Costco for people with diabetes. Regular visits are also valid for people with a high risk for developing diabetes and those with borderline diabetes.