The three major eye problems that people with diabetes need to be aware of are cataracts, glaucoma, and retinopathy.
To prevent eye problems, you should:
- Control your blood glucose.
- Have your eyes checked at least once a year by an ophthalmologist (eye specialist).
- Control high blood pressure.
Contact your doctor if any of the following occur:
- Black spots in your vision
- Flashes of light
- "Holes" in your vision
- Blurred vision
Cataracts
A cataract is a clouding or fogging of the lens inside the eye. When this
happens, light cannot enter the eye and vision is impaired.
Symptoms
- Blurred vision
- Glared vision
Treatment
Surgery followed by glasses, contact lenses, or lens implant
Glaucoma
Glaucoma is a buildup of fluid in the eye that causes increased pressure
inside the eye. The pressure pushes on nerves in the eye, causing changes in
vision. While most often there are no symptoms from glaucoma, the following
symptoms might occur:
Symptoms
- Headaches
- Eye aches (pain)
- Blurred vision
- Watering eyes
- Frequent changes with glasses
- Halos around lights
- Loss of vision
Treatment
- Special eye drops
- Laser therapy
- Medication
- Surgery
Prevention
Have your eye doctor screen for glaucoma annually.
Retinopathy
Problems with the retina are called diabetic retinopathy. Problems develop
as a result of fluid leaking from blood vessels into the eye or abnormal blood
vessels formed in the eye. In either case, vision can be affected. If
retinopathy is not found early or is not treated, blindness can occur.
Symptoms
Sometimes there are no symptoms of retinopathy, but two common symptoms
are:
- Blurred vision
- Spots or lines in your vision
Treatment
- Laser therapy
- Surgery
Prevention
Have your eye doctor screen for retinopathy annually.
Women with preexisting diabetes who become pregnant should have a comprehensive eye exam during the first trimester and close follow-up with an eye doctor during pregnancy (this recommendation does not apply to women who develop gestational diabetes, since they are not at risk for retinopathy)
Blurred vision
Don't buy a new pair of glasses when you notice you have blurred vision.
Blurred vision can develop rapidly and can be due to high blood glucose levels.
High blood glucose causes the lens of the eye to swell, which changes your
ability to see. To correct this kind of blurred vision, you need to get your
blood glucose level back into the target range (80-140 mg/dl before meals, and
100-160 mg/dl before bedtime snack). Blurred vision can also be a symptom of
more serious eye problems. If your vision is blurred, contact your doctor.
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