Eye Problems and Diabetes
Eye problems and diabetes introduction
If you have diabetes, regular visits to your ophthalmologist for eye exams
are important to avoid eye problems.
High blood sugar (glucose) increases the
risk of diabetes eye problems. In fact, diabetes is the leading cause of
blindness in adults age 20 to 74.
If you have eye problems and diabetes, don't buy a new pair of glasses when
you notice you have blurred vision. It could just be a temporary eye problem
that develops rapidly with diabetes and is caused by high blood sugar levels.
High blood sugar in diabetes 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 (90-130 milligrams per deciliter
or mg/dL before meals, and less than 180 mg/dL one to two hours after a meal).
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 and Diabetes
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 with diabetes, your eye cannot focus light and your
vision is impaired. Symptoms of this eye problem in diabetes include blurred or
glared vision.
Treatment is usually surgery followed by placement of a lens implant, with
glasses or contact lenses as needed to further correct vision.
Next: Glaucoma and diabetes »
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