You know that diabetes affects not just your pancreas, heart, kidneys, and feet, but it can also affect your eyes. Diabetes puts you at an increased risk of many eye diseases, including diabetic retinopathy, diabetic macular edema, glaucoma, and cataracts. But did you know you can safeguard your vision from the effects of diabetes-induced eye diseases?
Yes, if you follow a proactive approach, you can protect your sight and lower your likelihood of eye diseases. Read the blog to learn what steps you should take to preserve your vision over the years.
Get Comprehensive Eye Assessment – Every Year
The first step to safeguarding your sight is getting a complete dilated eye checkup at least once a year. The reason? Diabetic eye disease often has no clear symptoms at the onset.
How does a dilated eye examination help? It allows your eye doctor to thoroughly assess your retina and optic nerve for any signs of damage. Yes, you may not notice any vision issues, but diabetes might be silently causing damage to your eyes.
Regular monitoring, as advised by your doctor, allows any eye condition to be detected early so that you can get timely vision-saving treatment.
*Note: The eye examination frequency can vary from patient to patient depending on the type of diabetes, eye health, and their eye doctor’s advice.
| 🚨 Diabetes Facts: Diabetes affects small blood vessels, causing damage all over the body. Some of the tiniest blood vessels are in the back part of the eye (retina). Bleeding or fluid leakage puts your vision at risk of partial or total blindness. The key lies in early detection and treatment. |
Manage Sugar Levels
High blood sugar levels can temporarily modify the shape of the eye lens. During this time, vision may turn blurry, though it may become normal when blood sugar levels stabilise.
Another consequence of high blood sugar for the eyes is blood vessels in the eye(s) getting damaged. Keeping blood sugar within the permissible limits may help reduce the risk of diabetes-related eye complications
| 🚨Diabetes Facts: Diabetic eye disease may take 5-10 years to develop. But does that mean your vision is safe during this duration? No! Damage often begins without any clear symptoms. (via AAO) |
Control BP & Cholesterol
Two factors responsible for several health issues are high blood pressure and high cholesterol. They can harm your vision too by raising your risk of eye disease and loss of vision. Keep both under control. It will be beneficial not just for your eyes but also for your overall health.
| 🚨Diabetes Facts: Which eye conditions does diabetic eye disease include? It includes diabetic retinopathy, diabetic macular edema, cataracts, and glaucoma. (via NIH) |
Give Up Smoking
Smoking is hazardous for your eyes as it escalates your risk of diabetic retinopathy and other eye diseases associated with diabetes. Quit tobacco and lower your risk.
| 🚨Diabetes Facts: Diabetic eye disease often has no early symptoms and can affect anybody with type 1 or type 2 diabetes. (via NIH) |
Exercise Regularly
The importance of staying physically active cannot be overstated. Not only does it benefit your eyes, but it is also advantageous for your diabetes. Regular exercise supports your eye health alongside controlling diabetes.
| 🚨Diabetes Facts: Diabetic individuals are 2X more prone to developing cataracts – at a younger age and with faster progression than in non-diabetic people. (via AAO) |
What are the Symptoms of Diabetic Eye Disease?
Diabetic eye disease often has no obvious symptoms. This makes it a potentially vision-threatening eye condition. There may not be any pain or vision change even as damage starts within the eyes, especially in the case of diabetic retinopathy.
Here are some symptoms that may occur:
- Blurred or wavy vision
- Frequent vision changes (sometimes on a daily basis)
- Blind spots or loss of vision
- Compromised colour vision
- Flashes of light
- Floaters
Consult an eye doctor promptly if you experience any of these symptoms.
Conclusion
It is possible for diabetic individuals to safeguard their vision. It just requires you to follow a disciplined strategy that involves controlling your sugar, BP, and cholesterol levels, staying physically active, avoiding smoking, and getting regular comprehensive dilated eye examinations.
Sohana Hospital, a leading super-speciality facility with over 30 years of legacy in world-class eye care, has some of the best retina doctor in Mohali. Experts in diagnosing and treating all kinds of diabetic eye diseases, they are known for a personalised, patient-centric, and compassionate approach.
At Sohana Hospital, we understand and address all your concerns. The use of the latest eye technologies gives us an edge in the treatment and management of various diabetes-induced eye conditions, be it diabetic macular edema, diabetic retinopathy, cataracts, or glaucoma.
Follow a healthy lifestyle and get regular dilated eye check-ups – Protect your vision from diabetes.
Reference Sources:
- American Academy of Ophthalmology. Surprising Facts About Diabetes and Your Eyes. https://www.aao.org/eye-health/tips-prevention/5-facts-about-diabetes-your-eyes#:~:text=Diabetic%20Eye%20Disease%20Can,before%20you%20notice%20them. – Sep. 17, 2024
- National Institutes of Health. Diabetic Eye Disease. https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/diabetes/overview/preventing-problems/diabetic-eye-disease#:~:text=Diabetic%20eye%20disease%20is%20a%20group%20of%20eye%20problems%20that%20can%20affect%20people%20with%20diabetes.%20These%20conditions%20include%20diabetic%20retinopathy%2C%20diabetic%20macular%20edema%2C%20cataracts%2C%20and%20glaucoma. – May 2017
- National Institutes of Health. People With Diabetes Can Prevent Vision Loss. https://www.nei.nih.gov/sites/default/files/2019-06/diabetes-prevent-vision-loss.pdf
