![\"\"](\"https:\/\/rohsi.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/eyeglasses-679696_1920-595x397.jpg\")
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HOW DIABETES AFFECTS YOUR EYES<\/b><\/p>\n
Diabetes can make you more likely to have eye problems. Your blood sugar (glucose) levels may be high because your body can’t make or use insulin properly. Too much blood sugar can build up and harm your nerves and blood vessels. Damage to the blood vessels in your eyes can lead to vision loss or blindness. Anyone with diabetes is at risk, so it\u2019s important to get yearly eye exams.<\/p>\n
Symptoms of Eye Damage<\/b><\/p>\n
Diabetes can affect your eyes in different ways. When your blood sugar is high or when you start insulin treatment, you may have blurry vision or other problems. But your eyes can be damaged even if you don\u2019t notice any changes. Don\u2019t wait for symptoms to arise to get your vision checked.<\/p>\n
Diabetic Retinopathy<\/b><\/p>\n
The retina senses light coming into your eye, and it sends messages to your brain about the things you see. Damage to blood vessels inside the retina from blood sugar buildup is called diabetic retinopathy. You might not notice changes at first, but over time the walls of your blood vessels may leak fluid. When you\u2019ve had diabetes for a while, blood vessels can form scar tissue and pull the retina away from the back of your eye. This can lead to severe vision loss and even blindness.<\/p>\n
Treatment — Laser Surgery<\/b><\/p>\n
Your doctor can diagnose retinopathy during a thorough eye exam. He\u2019ll use a special dye to find leaking blood vessels. In the early stages, diabetic retinopathy often can be treated with laser surgery called photocoagulation. The laser seals the blood vessels and stops them from leaking and growing. The procedure can’t restore lost vision. Combined with follow-up care, though, it can lower your chances of blindness by as much as 90%.<\/p>\n
\u00a0Treatment — Vitrectomy<\/b><\/p>\n
In the late stages of diabetic retinopathy — if the retina has detached or a lot of blood has leaked into your eye — your doctor may suggest vitrectomy. This surgery removes scar tissue, blood, and cloudy fluid from inside the eye. Vitrectomy can improve your vision.<\/p>\n
Diabetic Retinopathy Risk Factors<\/b><\/p>\n
Eventually, nearly everyone with diabetes will have some degree of retinopathy. Your chances increase the longer you have the disease. The odds will be higher if you don\u2019t have good control of your blood sugar, blood pressure, and cholesterol.<\/p>\n
How to Prevent Diabetic Retinopathy<\/b><\/p>\n
Keep your blood sugar, blood pressure, and cholesterol under control. A major study found that people with diabetes who managed their disease intensely had much lower rates of diabetic retinopathy than those who followed standard treatment. It also helps to stop smoking. And it’s very important to get an annual dilated eye exam to spot early signs of the disease.<\/p>\n
Glaucoma and Diabetes<\/b><\/p>\n
While anyone over 40 is at increased risk of glaucoma, people with diabetes are 40% more likely to get it. Your chances rise the longer you have diabetes. Glaucoma can cause bright halos or coloured rings around lights, but it usually has no symptoms. Untreated, it can cause an increase in eye pressure that damages the optic nerve, resulting in vision loss and blindness. It can be treated with drops to lower eye pressure, or with laser or conventional surgery.<\/p>\n
\u00a0Cataracts and Diabetes<\/b><\/p>\n
If you have diabetes, you’re 60% more likely to get cataracts — and you\u2019ll probably get them at a younger age than people without diabetes. Poor control of blood sugar can speed up this condition. With a cataract, the lens in your eye becomes cloudy. This blocks light and makes everything look hazy. Cataract surgery, where the eye’s natural lens is replaced with an artificial one, can help vision. Sometimes diabetic retinopathy can get worse after cataract surgery, though.<\/p>\n
Diabetes can make you more likely to have eye problems. Your blood sugar (glucose) levels may be high because your body can’t make or use insulin properly. Too much blood sugar can build up and harm your nerves and blood vessels. Damage to the blood vessels in your eyes can lead to vision loss or blindness. Anyone with diabetes is at risk, so it\u2019s important to get yearly eye exams.<\/p>\n
\u00a0Symptoms of Eye Damage<\/b><\/p>\n
Diabetes can affect your eyes in different ways. When your blood sugar is high or when you start insulin treatment, you may have blurry vision or other problems. But your eyes can be damaged even if you don\u2019t notice any changes. Don\u2019t wait for symptoms to arise to get your vision checked.<\/p>\n
\u00a0Diabetic Retinopathy<\/b><\/p>\n
The retina senses light coming into your eye, and it sends messages to your brain about the things you see. Damage to blood vessels inside the retina from blood sugar buildup is called diabetic retinopathy. You might not notice changes at first, but over time the walls of your blood vessels may leak fluid. When you\u2019ve had diabetes for a while, blood vessels can form scar tissue and pull the retina away from the back of your eye. This can lead to severe vision loss and even blindness.<\/p>\n
Treatment — Laser Surgery<\/b><\/p>\n
Your doctor can diagnose retinopathy during a thorough eye exam. He\u2019ll use a special dye to find leaking blood vessels. In the early stages, diabetic retinopathy often can be treated with laser surgery called photocoagulation. The laser seals the blood vessels and stops them from leaking and growing. The procedure can’t restore lost vision. Combined with follow-up care, though, it can lower your chances of blindness by as much as 90%.<\/p>\n
Treatment — Vitrectomy<\/b><\/p>\n
In the late stages of diabetic retinopathy — if the retina has detached or a lot of blood has leaked into your eye — your doctor may suggest vitrectomy. This surgery removes scar tissue, blood, and cloudy fluid from inside the eye. Vitrectomy can improve your vision.<\/p>\n
Diabetic Retinopathy Risk Factors<\/b><\/p>\n
Eventually, nearly everyone with diabetes will have some degree of retinopathy. Your chances increase the longer you have the disease. The odds will be higher if you don\u2019t have good control of your blood sugar, blood pressure, and cholesterol.<\/p>\n
How to Prevent Diabetic Retinopathy<\/b><\/p>\n
Keep your blood sugar, blood pressure, and cholesterol under control. A major study found that people with diabetes who managed their disease intensely had much lower rates of diabetic retinopathy than those who followed standard treatment. It also helps to stop smoking. And it’s very important to get an annual dilated eye exam to spot early signs of the disease.<\/p>\n
Glaucoma and Diabetes<\/b><\/p>\n
While anyone over 40 is at increased risk of glaucoma, people with diabetes are 40% more likely to get it. Your chances rise the longer you have diabetes. Glaucoma can cause bright halos or coloured rings around lights, but it usually has no symptoms. Untreated, it can cause an increase in eye pressure that damages the optic nerve, resulting in vision loss and blindness. It can be treated with drops to lower eye pressure, or with laser or conventional surgery.<\/p>\n
Cataracts and Diabetes<\/b><\/p>\n
If you have diabetes, you’re 60% more likely to get cataracts — and you\u2019ll probably get them at a younger age than people without diabetes. Poor control of blood sugar can speed up this condition. With a cataract, the lens in your eye becomes cloudy. This blocks light and makes everything look hazy. Cataract surgery, where the eye’s natural lens is replaced with an artificial one, can help vision. Sometimes diabetic retinopathy can get worse after cataract surgery, though.<\/p>\n
See Your Doctor<\/b><\/p>\n
If you have diabetes and have any of these symptoms, see your doctor right away:<\/p>\n
\u2022\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Blurry or hazy vision<\/p>\n
\u2022\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Spots, floaters, or shadows<\/p>\n
\u2022\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Severe eye pain or pressure<\/p>\n
\u2022\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Sudden vision loss in one or both eyes<\/p>\n
\u2022\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Sense that a curtain is coming down over your eyes<\/p>\n
\u2022\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Flashing lights, double vision, or blind spots<\/p>\n
\u2022\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Waviness or distortion of straight lines<\/p>\n
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<\/a>Reverse type 2 diabetes – THIS is how much weight you should lose to cure conditioHOW DIABETES AFFECTS YOUR EYES Diabetes can make you more likely to have eye problems. Your blood sugar (glucose) levels may be high because your body can’t make or use insulin properly. Too much blood sugar can build up and harm your nerves and blood vessels. Damage to the blood vessels in your eyes can […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[61],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2112","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-healthy-tips"],"yoast_head":"\n