November marks Diabetic Eye Disease Awareness Month, an important time to focus on the unique connection between diabetes and vision health. For those managing diabetes, the risks to eye health can be significant, with diabetic eye diseases often developing silently and, in some cases, causing permanent vision loss if not caught and treated early. One of the major conditions affecting people with diabetes is glaucoma, a potentially serious disease that can lead to irreversible blindness if left untreated.
Below, our eye care team at discusses what diabetes is and how it can affect your eyes, including how it can significantly raise your risk of developing glaucoma over time.
What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic condition characterized by the body’s inability to regulate blood sugar (glucose) levels. When blood sugar levels remain elevated, they can damage blood vessels and nerves throughout the body, affecting numerous organs, including the eyes. There are two main types of diabetes—Type 1, where the body doesn’t produce insulin, and Type 2, where the body becomes resistant to insulin or doesn’t produce enough of it. Both types increase the risk of developing eye diseases like glaucoma, cataracts, and diabetic retinopathy.
How Does Diabetes Affect the Eyes?
The impact of diabetes on the eyes can be profound. Elevated blood sugar levels over time can damage blood vessels within the retina, the layer at the back of the eye responsible for receiving and processing visual information. This damage can lead to diabetic retinopathy, where blood vessels may leak, swell, or form abnormal new vessels, threatening vision.
Another significant risk for those with diabetes is glaucoma. Glaucoma is often caused by high pressure within the eye, damaging the optic nerve, which transmits visual information to the brain. The connection between diabetes and glaucoma is multifaceted, with studies showing that people with diabetes are twice as likely to develop glaucoma than those without the condition.
Understanding the Diabetes-Glaucoma Link
Diabetes and glaucoma share a complex relationship. For one, elevated blood sugar levels can lead to changes in the eye’s blood vessels, impacting blood flow and increasing intraocular pressure (IOP). The high IOP can gradually damage the optic nerve, resulting in vision loss that often begins with peripheral or side vision and can progress to complete blindness if untreated.
Additionally, diabetes can cause secondary forms of glaucoma, such as neovascular glaucoma. In this condition, abnormal blood vessels grow on the iris (the colored part of the eye) and block the normal drainage of eye fluids, raising eye pressure to dangerous levels. Neovascular glaucoma can be particularly aggressive and challenging to treat, emphasizing the need for early detection and management of glaucoma.
Protecting Your Vision: The Importance of Annual Eye Exams
For individuals with diabetes, regular eye exams are crucial in maintaining eye health and detecting diseases like glaucoma in their earliest stages. Because both diabetic retinopathy and glaucoma can develop without obvious symptoms, comprehensive dilated eye exams provide an essential opportunity for eye care professionals to detect even subtle changes before vision loss occurs.
During an eye exam, your eye doctor can check for changes in the retina and measure your eye pressure, monitoring for any signs of diabetic eye disease or glaucoma. Early diagnosis and management of these conditions can protect your vision and overall quality of life, enabling you to continue enjoying all that life has to offer.
Take Charge of Your Eye Health
For anyone managing diabetes, making an annual eye exam part of your healthcare routine is a proactive step towards preserving your vision. In recognition of Diabetic Eye Disease Awareness Month, we encourage you to schedule your exam at our eye clinic today. Early detection is the best defense against diabetic eye diseases, especially glaucoma, and an essential part of a healthy future.
Taking action now can help ensure that you’ll be seeing clearly for years to come!
