Diabetic Eye Problems - Diabetic Vision Problems for He...

Diabetic Eye Problems

Diabetic Eye Problems
UNIVERSITY OF LOWA



Diabetes is a disease that develops when the body does not make enough insulin or cannot use the insulin it makes. Insulin is a hormone that is needed to convert sugar, starches and other food into energy. Due to the lack of insulin, sugar builds up in the blood. This build up of sugar in the blood and lack of insulin is known as diabetes.

Diabetes is the main cause of blindness in adults in the United States. Although eye problems are a major concern for diabetics, most people who have diabetes only have minor eye disorders. The goal is to keep them minor and to treat them right away if they become more serious.

Eye problems are a long-term complication of diabetes. High blood sugar and high blood pressure, can damage the eye's retina, lens, and optic nerve. Diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, and cataracts are the most common eye problems found in diabetics.

Diabetic retinopathy is the leading cause of blindness in adults. It is damage to the retina. This is the lining at the back of the eye that senses light coming into the eye. The retina has tiny blood vessels that are easily damaged by high blood sugar and high blood pressure. The longer you have diabetes, the more your chances of having diabetic retinopathy. In the early stages, symptoms are not noticeable. As it worsens over the years, symptoms may include blurred vision, floaters (small black spots or cobweb-type floaters in the vision), or temporary or permanent blindness.

To diagnose diabetic retinopathy, an ophthalmologist (eye specialist) needs to examine the retina with a very strong light. The sooner it is diagnosed and treated, the better the chances of preventing permanent blindness. Laser treatment may be used to improve oxygen supply to the retina or stop the bleeding from those vessels.

One serious complication from diabetic retinopathy is a detached retina. This condition needs immediate attention. Call your healthcare provider immediately if you have any new floaters, dark spots, or light flashes or if your vision is blocked, blurred, distorted or you cannot see.

Glaucoma is another condition common in diabetics. Any one can get glaucoma, especially if someone else in their family has had it. But diabetics are twice as likely to get glaucoma as non-diabetics. Glaucoma occurs when pressure builds up in the eye. If left untreated, the pressure eventually pinches the blood vessels of the retina and optic nerve. Vision is gradually lost due to this damage.

Glaucoma has no symptoms at first. By the time symptoms occur, damage has already been done. If glaucoma is caught early, it can be treated, and permanent damage or blindness can be prevented. There is a simple test the eye doctor can perform to check the pressure in the eye.

Treatment of glaucoma includes eye drops, and sometimes pills, that will control the pressure. If glaucoma progresses to the point that vision is affected, nothing can be done to improve it. But laser treatments can prevent further damage. The best treatment for glaucoma is early diagnosis and treatment.

Cataracts occur in most everyone as they get older. Several factors depend if they occur when one is 50 or 80. Cataracts are more common, and happen earlier, in diabetics and in people who smoke. Cataracts occur when the lens, which is behind the pupil in the eye, becomes cloudy. At first there may not be any symptoms. As the lens gets cloudier, double or blurry vision is noticed. At first, stronger eyeglasses may help. But eventually, the lens will have to be removed. There is no set time when a cataract lens should be removed. It depends on the person. One good indicator is when vision interferes with the activities of daily living.

Cataract operations are very common. At the time of surgery, a plastic lens is put in the eye, so that strong glasses are not needed. The patient usually goes home the same day the surgery is done.

Eye problems are common in diabetics and most cannot be prevented. But permanent blindness can be prevented with early treatment. To prevent eye problems:

keep your blood sugar levels under control at all times
keep your blood pressure under control
do not smoke
immediately report any changes in vision
have eye exams yearly or more often, if necessary and
if pregnant, have an eye exam during the first 3 months of the pregnancy

Do not wait for a vision change to occur to see the eye doctor. Schedule a yearly eye exam that checks for diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, and cataracts.

See an eye specialist immediately for:

any change in vision, such as blurred or double vision
vision problems when reading
eye pain or pressure
one or both eyes hurt
spots or floaters in the line of vision
trouble seeing out of the corner of the eye or
vision includes rings, flashing lights, or blank spots

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