How does Diabetes Affect your Eyes?

In NZ, more than 300,000 people are estimated to be diagnosed and living with Diabetes, yet a vast number of diabetics when questioned, aren’t fully aware of how diabetes can affect their vision. 

On doing our own survey of our diabetic patients in our Glenfield Clinic, we found that more than a whopping 68% of our diabetic patients did not know if they had any ocular involvement, what symptoms they should be looking out for, and even how diabetes is linked to the eyes! 

And since many ocular symptoms of diabetes simply cause blurry vision, unfortunately it is common for many to assume it is due a prescription or spectacle issue, rather than an underlying health change.

If you have been diagnosed with the condition or know someone one that is; it’s important to know the signs and symptoms to look out for, and to always get it checked if unsure as early detection, prevention, management is key. 

First of all, what is Diabetes? 

Diabetes is a chronic condition where the body has a difficult time managing blood glucose levels, due to either an insufficient amount of insulin being produced, or because the cells in the body cannot utilise insulin properly to uptake glucose from the bloodstream.  High levels of blood glucose can over time lead to damage to various organs and tissues around the body, including the eyes. 

How does Diabetes affect the eyes?

There are several ways that Diabetes can affect your eyes, primarily through damage to the eye’s blood vessels which become weaker and leaky over time. This can result in one or more of the following:

• Blood leaking through capillaries into the retina, which shows up as blood spots or haemorrhages, known as Diabetic Retinopathy 

• Swelling or leakage of fluid in the macula, which is the part of the retina that is responsible for sharp, detailed vision. This is called Macular oedema, and can result in significant visual blurring or impairment. 

• Diabetes can also accelerate the formation and progression of Cataracts, (which is when the natural lens inside the eye becomes cloudy) as well as Glaucoma; where the damage to blood vessels can contribute to an elevated pressure in the eye, causing vision damage caused by glaucoma. 

Although Diabetes can have widespread systemic effects, the good news is that Diabetes remains a condition which can be managed through diet and lifestyle, and even with vision changes, many of these effects can be reversed with proper diabetic management. The most important of all It seems, is through managing stable blood glucose levels. 

How?

Managing blood sugar effectively involves a combination of healthy habits, medications, and regular monitoring. Key strategies include maintaining a healthy weight through diet and exercise, eating a balanced diet, engaging in regular physical activity, taking prescribed medications as directed, and consistently monitoring blood sugar levels.

Understanding the effects of carbohydrates on blood sugar is essential, as is preventing a sedentary lifestyle. Regular, often daily monitoring of glucose levels is also key, and understanding how to adjust your diet, activity and medications accordingly. 

And last but not least, regular checks with your healthcare professionals. 

Because Diabetes is a systemic disease with widespread organ involvement, it is crucial to ensure all your healthcare professionals adopt a ‘shared care’ and collaborative approach to your health. Often, signs of diabetic retinopathy and bleeding at the back of the eyes is a visible sign that your blood sugar and systemic organs may not be optimal, and communication between your Optometrist and GP is important for this reason. 

Regular assessments of the eyes, as well as a full blood workup is often recommended every 6 months to a year, and these should never be missed. 

If you’ve recently received a diagnosis, or been living with the condition for years, remember Diabetes is a condition that you can be pro-active about. 

Its never too late to start making changes to your lifestyle; and if you haven’t had a full diabetic assessment recently, here is your reminder to book one in, ASAP!

If you’d like to know more about your risk profile for developing Diabetes, learn more at www.diabetes.org.nz.

And as always, your team at Optique are always available to help further- we are passionate about all things eyes :)