Diabetes

What are diabetic eye diseases?

Diabetes is a chronic condition that can have significant effects on your health, including your vision. When blood sugar levels are consistently high, they can damage the blood vessels in the retina, a light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye. This damage can lead to diabetic eye diseases, including:

Diabetic retinopathy

This condition is the most common eye complication of diabetes. It occurs when high blood sugar levels damage the blood vessels in the retina.

• Symptoms: In the early stages, diabetic retinopathy often has no symptoms. As the condition progresses, you may experience blurred vision, floaters, or even vision loss.
• Treatment: Diabetic retinopathy treatment can include laser therapy, anti-VEGF injections, or surgery.

Cataracts

A cataract is a clouding of the lens of the eye. People with diabetes are more likely to develop cataracts at a younger age.

• Symptoms: Cataracts can cause blurred or hazy vision, sensitivity to light, and difficulty seeing at night.
• Treatment: Cataract surgery is typically the best treatment option.

Glaucoma

Characterized by increased pressure in the eye, glaucoma can damage the optic nerve. People with diabetes are at a higher risk for glaucoma.

• Symptoms: Early-stage glaucoma often has no symptoms. As the condition progresses, you may experience blurred vision, halos around lights, or tunnel vision.
• Treatment: Treatment for glaucoma typically involves eye drops, laser surgery, or traditional surgery.

Preventing diabetic eye diseases

To reduce your risk of developing eye problems related to diabetes, it’s important to:

• Manage your blood sugar: Work with your healthcare provider to keep your blood sugar levels within a target range. This can involve lifestyle changes, medications, or insulin therapy.
• Control your blood pressure: High blood pressure can increase your risk of eye problems. Talk to your doctor about ways to implement blood sugar control.
• Have regular eye exams: If you have diabetes, it’s crucial to have regular eye exams to detect and treat any eye issues early. Your doctor can recommend how often you should have eye exams based on your individual risk factors.

By taking these steps, you can help protect your vision and maintain your overall health.

Diabetic eye care at Iowa Eye Center

Our ophthalmologists offer advanced surgical procedures, laser treatments, and many other treatment options to treat eye complications of diabetes. If your eyes are healthy, we can give you that reassurance, too. Call us today at (319) 362-3937 to schedule your diabetic eye exam.