Diabetes is a chronic disease characterized by glycemia, that is to say, an above-normal blood sugar level.

It occurs when the body is unable to produce enough insulin, a hormone that converts sugar into energy, nor produce it properly. If sugar does not enter the body’s cells to be transformed into energy, it remains in the blood. 

Diabetes can lead to major health problems, even death. However, did you know that it can also lead to eye and vision problems? 

Keep reading to learn more.

The Relationship Between Eye Health and Diabetes

There are two types of diabetes. 

Type 1 diabetes, the rarer of the two, is when the body cannot produce enough insulin. It is often hereditary and appears during one’s teenage years.

Type 2 diabetes, when the body cannot use insulin. It develops and appears later in life, usually

 after 40.

There is also a correlation between obesity in younger people and the number of diabetic people under 40. When the condition is poorly controlled, excess sugar in the blood can cause the eyes’ blood vessels to thicken and harden. 

The disease can affect the iris, the crystalline lens, the retina, and the optic nerve preventing the eye from properly functioning.

Diabetes Symptoms and Complications

Uncontrolled diabetes affects vision quality. Eye-related problems among diabetics include blurred or double vision, pressure or pain in the eye, and even dark or blind spots in the field of vision.

As mentioned, diabetes can affect every part of the eye. In addition to leading to vision changes, it can also cause cataracts (the clouding of the crystalline lens), glaucoma (increased intraocular pressure and damage to the optic nerve), and retinopathy (deterioration of small retinal blood vessels).

Although diabetes is not the main cause of cataracts or glaucoma, it is mainly responsible for retinopathy.

Diabetic Retinopathy

People with diabetes are more likely to develop retinopathy, which itself is the most common cause of blindness in North America. High blood sugar can, over time, weaken blood vessels that cross the retina and cause bleeding. This bleeding is what can lead to blurred vision and even blindness.

Treatment and Prevention

Damaged blood vessels can be repaired using lasers. Laser surgery can partially restore sight and can prevent retinopathy from developing further. 

That being said, the key to effectively treating diabetic retinopathy remains prevention. This is done by managing the underlying cause: diabetes. As such, whether through diet, exercise, medication, or insulin injection, balancing blood sugar levels is paramount in terms of delaying the onset of diabetic retinopathy.