Nearly 30 million people in the US have diabetes, according to the CDC (Center for Disease Control). It is widely known that diabetes affects the blood vessels and nerves of the body. Because of blood sugar abnormalities, blood vessels all over the body can swell or leak. This is much worse in untreated or uncontrolled diabetes. However, what people often are not aware of is the damage it can cause to the eyes.
For the eyes, the damage to blood vessels and nerves can mean serious problems - diabetes is the leading cause of irreversible blindness in Americans under age 65. While blindness is clearly the largest concern, diabetes can also damage the eyes in a number of other ways.
Diabetic Retinopathy
Diabetes can cause the blood vessels…show more content… Severe nonproliferative Retinopathy: This is the most serious nonproliferative stage in which severe swelling denies blood supply to the retina, greatly affecting vision and causing the body to grow new blood vessels to try to compensate.
Proliferative Retinopathy: In this most advanced stage of retinopathy, the eye has grown new blood vessels in an attempt to restore blood flow to the retina. However, the new blood vessels are weak and leak easily, causing leakage of blood that can lead to severe vision damage or…show more content… In this condition, fluid can leak from the blood vessels into the macula, a small part at the center of the retina that is responsible for detailed vision. The excess fluid there causes edema, or swelling of the macula, and leads to vision impairment.
Other Conditions
Diabetics are twice as likely to develop glaucoma because of their disease. Glaucoma is the damage of nerves in the eye that has lead to swelling within the eye. The result is a gradual loss of vision. Diabetics are also more likely to develop cataracts, or the clouding of the lense of the eye. Both of these conditions are serious and can result in blindness if not detected and treated properly.
Symptoms of Diabetic Eye Conditions
Diabetic eye disease is a serious problem with serious risks. Many of the conditions often have no symptoms until damage has already been done. Common symptoms in diabetics include:
Blurred or double vision
Seeing spots, streaks or flashing lights
Blind spots.
Diabetics should be mindful of any change in vision or eyesight and report these changes to their doctor right away.
