Eye Problems and Diabetes
If
you are Diabetic and notice blurred vision , Don’t neglect at the same time don’t
buy a new pair of glasses immediately. Visit your ophthalmologist just be a temporary eye problem that develops
rapidly with diabetes and is caused by high blood sugar levels. High Blood Sugar
levels causes the lens of the eye to swell, which changes your ability to see. To
correct this kind of eye problem, you need to get your blood sugar back into
the target range, It may take as long as three months after your blood sugar is
well controlled for your vision to fully get back to normal. Blurred vision can also be a symptom of more
serious eye problem with diabetes. The three major eye problems that people
with diabetes may develop and should be aware of are Cataracts, Glaucoma, and Retinopathy.
Cataracts
:
A cataract is
a clouding or fogging of the normally clear lens of the eye. The lens is what
allows us to see and focus on an image just like a camera. Although anyone can
get cataracts, people with diabetes get these eye problems at an earlier age
than most and the condition progresses more rapidly than in people without
diabetes.If you have a cataract, there is a cloudy area in the lens of your eye
that results in the inability to focus light, and your vision is impaired.
Symptoms of this eye problem in diabetes include blurred or glared vision.During cataract
surgery, the cloudy lens is removed or cleaned out and replaced by a clear
man-made lens.
Glaucoma
:
When
fluid inside the eye does not drain properly from a build up of pressure inside
the eye, it results in another eye problem with diabetes called glaucoma. The
pressure damages nerves and the vessels in the eye, causing changes in vision.Treatment
of this eye problem in diabetes can include special eye drops, laser
procedures, medicine, or surgery. Surgery and laser treatments are directed at
improving the eye's aqueous drainage. You can prevent serious eye problems in
diabetes problems by getting an annual glaucoma screening from your eye doctor.
Diabetic
Retinopathy
The
retina is a group of specialized cells that convert light as it enters though
the lens into images. The eye nerve or optic nerve transmits visual information
to the brain. Diabetic retinopathy is one of the vascular (blood-vessel
related) complications related to diabetes. This diabetes eye problem is due to
damage of small vessels and is called a "microvascular complication. "Kidney disease and
nerve damage due to diabetes are also other microvascular complications. Large
blood vessel damage (also called macrovascular complications) includes
complications like heart disease and stroke. The microvascular
complications have, in numerous studies, been shown to be related to high blood
sugar levels. You can reduce your risk of these eye problems in diabetes
complications by improving your blood sugar control. Diabetic retinopathy is
the leading cause of irreversible blindness in industrialized nations. The
duration of diabetes is the single most important risk for developing retinopathy.
So the longer you have diabetes, the greater the risk of this very serious eye
problem. If retinopathy is not found early or is not treated, it can lead to
blindness.
Preventing
Eye Problems With Diabetes
The American Diabetes Association offers these eye
care guidelines for people with diabetes to help prevent eye problems:
·
People with type 1 diabetes should
have a dilated eye exam by an ophthalmologist or optometrist within three to
five years after diagnosis.
·
People with type 2 diabetes should
have a dilated eye exam by an ophthalmologist or optometrist shortly after
diagnosis.
·
Annual eye exams should be done with
both type 1 and type 2 diabetes by an ophthalmologist or optometrist; more
frequently if necessary.
·
When considering pregnancy, women
with a history of diabetes should have an eye exam prior and during pregnancy.
This does not pertain to women with gestational diabetes.
To
prevent eye problems in diabetes, you should:
·
Control your blood sugar
·
Control high blood pressure
If
you have diabetes, contact your doctor about any eye problems in if any of the
following occur:
·
Black spots in your vision.
·
Flashes of light.
·
"Holes" in your vision.
·
Blurred vision.
