Diabetes may seriously affect the eyes if left untreated or not managed properly. The high blood sugar associated with the disease can cause a variety of damage including blindness. However, you can mitigate the effects of diabetes with proper eye care and regular visits to your eye doctor. Below, learn more about the impact of diabetes on the eyes.

How Diabetes Can Affect the Eyes

Cataracts

You don’t have to have diabetes to get cataracts, but those who do have the disease are two to five times more likely to get them, and experience progression of symptoms faster. A cataract clouds the lens of the eye, gradually decreasing your ability to see. 

Diabetic Retinopathy

The chronic high blood sugar associated with diabetes causes damage to the small blood vessels that line the retina, located in the back of the eye. The retina is responsible for directing light and converting it to signals that are sent to the brain via the optic nerve. When the retina is compromised or damaged, this impacts your ability to see. Diabetic retinopathy is the most common cause of vision loss in adults in America.

Diabetic Macular Edema (DME)

DME is a result of diabetic retinopathy. It is characterized by a swelling, or edema, in the part of the retina called the macula. The macula allows the eye to focus your direct vision, read, drive, and recognize faces. Around half of those who develop retinopathy will also experience DME.

Glaucoma

Glaucoma can damage the optic nerve and thus impair the signals the eye sends to the brain. Adults with diabetes are twice as likely to develop glaucoma as those without.

Prevention 

Although some diabetes-related eye diseases are irreversible, the good news is that with early detection, many of these issues can be treated with proper eye care. Early detection and treatment of diabetic retinopathy can reduce the risk of blindness by up to 95%. People with diabetes should get a full eye exam every year. Managing blood sugar levels is crucial to reducing the risk of any of these eye diseases.

Diabetes can have a serious effect on the eyes, but if you manage your condition and schedule regular eye exams, you will be less likely to suffer the more permanent damage associated with diabetic eye disease. The professional staff at Tri-State Ophthalmology, in Ashland, KY, are diabetic eye care experts. They also provide cataract surgery, regular eye care, and age-related macular degeneration. To learn more about their services, visit their website or call (606) 324-2451.