Diabetes and Your Vision Health

If you are like millions of Americans that suffer from diabetes, you likely aren’t aware of all of the implications that the disease can have on your body. As an intensive metabolic disease that either eliminates your body’s ability to produce insulin or encourages your body to produce too much insulin, diabetes can have a damaging toll on your entire body, but how does it affect your vision health? As the leading cause of blindness in individuals ages 20-74, it’s important for all diabetic patients to understand the role that diabetes plays on your vision health. From cataracts to diabetic retinopathy, these three diseases are the most common vision diseases among diabetics everywhere. Read on to learn more.

Cataracts

As an eye disease that causes a cloudy visual appearance in your eyes, cataracts is more common among individuals with diabetes than it is for those without. Typically more noticeable at an earlier age in diabetic patients, cataracts can help skew your vision and give you vision troubles.

Glaucoma

When the pressure in your eyes builds up and causes the fluid in your eyes to not drain properly, this is called glaucoma. Symptoms of glaucoma include blurred vision, headaches, eye aches, and even eye halos. However, there are several different types of glaucoma treatment options including surgery, eye drops, medication, and even laser procedures.

Diabetic Retinopathy

Caused primarily by the constant onset of a high blood sugar, diabetic retinopathy is a disease that damages the small vessels in the eye and cause vision impairment. Diabetic retinopathy typically presents itself in patients who have been diagnosed with diabetes for a longer amount of time and hardly ever affects juveniles.

To help prevent any sort of eye issues or diseases associated with diabetes, it’s important to schedule a yearly eye exam with your doctor in order to have your eyes properly assessed and evaluated for any vision problems.

If you or a loved one have diabetes and would like to learn more about vision problems or diseases, contact our office today!