What is diabetes?

Diabetes is a chronic disease that prevents your body from making or using insulin, which in turn leads to increased sugar levels in your bloodstream, known as high blood sugar.

How does diabetes affect the eye?

Diabetes and its complications can affect many parts of the eye. Diabetes can cause changes in:

1. Nearsightedness
2. Farsightedness
3. Premature presbyopia (the inability to focus on close objects). 

It can result in:

1. Cataracts
2. Glaucoma
3. Paralysis of the nerves that control the eye muscles
4. Decreased corneal sensitivity 

Visual symptoms of diabetes include:

1. Fluctuating or blurry vision
2. Occasional double vision
3. Loss of visual field
4. Flashes and floaters within the eyes

These early signs of diabetes can first be detected in a thorough eye examination performed by a Doctor of Optometry. The most serious eye problem associated with diabetes is diabetic retinopathy.

What is retinopathy?

Diabetic retinopathy occurs when there is a weakening or swelling of the tiny blood vessels in the retina of your eye. This may result in blood leakage, the growth of new blood vessels, and other changes. If diabetic retinopathy is left untreated, blindness can result.

Can vision loss from diabetes be prevented?

Yes, in a routine eye examination, your Doctor of Optometry can provided helpful diagnoses that may be treated to prevent blindness. But once damage has occurred, the effects can be permanent.

How is diabetic retinopathy treated?

In the early stages, diabetic retinopathy is monitored through eye health examinations. If necessary, it may be treated with intraocular injections of anti-VEGF therapy (Lucentis, Avastin, Eylea) or laser therapy. A bright beam of light is focused on the retina, causing a laser burn that seals off leaking blood vessels. 

In other cases, retinal surgery may be necessary. It is important to detect diabetic retinopathy early as treatment is much more likely to be successful.

Are there risk factors for developing diabetic retinopathy?

Several factors that increase the risk of developing diabetic retinopathy include:

• Poorly controlled blood sugar levels
• The number of years you have had diabetes
• Smoking
• High blood pressure
• Drinking alcohol and pregnancy

How can diabetes-related eye problems be prevented?

1. Monitor and maintain control of your diabetes
2. See your physician regularly and follow instructions about diet, exercise, and medication
3. See your Doctor of Optometry for a thorough eye examination when you are first diagnosed with diabetes (at least annually thereafter)