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Why Do Diabetics Have to Take Extra Care of Their Eyes?
The International Diabetes Federation reports roughly 10.5% of the adult population has diabetes. Nearly half of those don’t know they have this chronic disease.
People with diabetes have trouble regulating blood sugar. Either their body doesn’t produce enough insulin, or it can’t use what it does produce effectively. Chronic high blood sugar impacts the body in many ways, including damaging your eyes.
Dr. Bimal Patel at Focus Refined Eye Care evaluates your eyes for signs of diabetic retinopathy, cataracts, and glaucoma. Regular eye exams can catch potential vision problems early and help prevent them.
How diabetes impacts the eyes
Chronic high blood sugar levels can damage your eyes, leading to blurred vision and damaged blood vessels. When left untreated, this can lead to vision loss.
Chronic high sugar levels can narrow blood vessels, so your eyes get less oxygen and nutrients. Over time, this damages the tiny blood vessels that lead to your retina. Your eye’s retina is the light-sensitive tissue at the back of your eye that ensures you can see clearly.
Common diabetic eye problems for people include:
- Diabetic retinopathy
- Glaucoma
- Cataracts
Diabetic retinopathy is a common diabetic complication that must be treated early to save vision. If the blood vessels are damaged, early symptoms might include blurred vision or floaters in your eyesight.
Other common diabetic eye problems include glaucoma and cataracts. Increased pressure in the eye sometimes leads to glaucoma by damaging the optic nerve. Cataracts occur when your eye’s lens becomes cloudy and impacts your vision.
Preventive eye care is beneficial for people with diabetes. If you have diabetes, monitoring your eye health is essential so our team can detect early symptoms.
People with diabetes need extra eye care
Learning to manage blood sugar is critical to the health of anyone with diabetes. Controlling blood sugar reduces the risk of damaging eye diseases that can steal vision.
An annual eye exam also helps us spot potential diabetic eye symptoms early, which is key to protecting your eyesight.
Diabetes increases your health risks, including severe eye conditions. Regulating your blood sugar, adopting healthy habits, and incorporating regular eye exams into your healthcare routine can reduce eye risks.
We are accepting new patients at Focus Refined Eye Care in Houston, Texas' Heights and Montrose neighborhoods. We evaluate your eye health and make recommendations for ongoing treatment. You can make your appointment online here and take the next step toward preserving your eyesight.