How Diabetes Can Affect Your Eyes

Diabetes is a game-changer when it comes to your health, and diabetes management is not just about monitoring glucose levels and eating a healthier diet. Diabetes affects every part of your body, from your feet all the way up to your eyes. Regular eye exams in Derry , Manchester, and surrounding areas are absolutely crucial to protecting and preserving your vision if you have diabetes.

Diabetic Retinopathy

Diabetic retinopathy involves damage that is done to the blood capillaries in the back of the eye. As these tiny blood vessels swell up, blood flow is restricted. This can cause an unnatural transfer of fluids inside the eye, leading to blurry vision and potential vision loss. Proliferative retinopathy is the most advanced and severe form of the condition. The body responds to the blocked vessels by causing more vessels to grow. Unfortunately, these new vessels are most often too weak to stand up to the job, which causes bleeding in the eye. Scar tissue from the process may lead to the retina detaching.

Glaucoma

Glaucoma is a relatively common eye disease that causes increased pressure in the eye, and is especially common among diabetic individuals. In fact, having diabetes increases your risk for developing glaucoma by as much as 40 percent—perhaps even more if you’re a long time sufferer. Glaucoma treatment is available, but it must be accompanied by gaining proper control of your glucose levels for the best chances of success. Glaucoma can eventually lead to blindness, as the increased pressure damages the optic nerve irreversibly.

Cataracts

Cataracts are another fairly common eye condition that diabetic individuals have an increased risk of suffering. This condition involves a clouding of the lens of your eye that can eventually obscure vision completely. Fortunately, your ophthalmologist may be able to offer you cataract surgery when the cataracts become developed enough to cause serious vision disturbances.