Diabetes is becoming much more prevalent around the globe. According to the International Diabetes Federation, approximately 425 million adults were living with diabetes in 2017, with 352 million more at risk of developing type 2 diabetes. By 2045, the number of people diagnosed is expected to rise to 629 million.
Diabetes is a leading cause of blindness, heart attacks, stroke, kidney failure, neuropathy (nerve damage), and lower limb amputation. In fact, in 2017, diabetes was implicated in 4 million deaths worldwide. However, preventing these complications from diabetes is possible with proper treatment, medication, regular medical screenings, and lifestyle changes like improving your diet and increasing physical activity.
What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic disease in which the hormone insulin is either underproduced or ineffective in its ability to regulate blood sugar. Uncontrolled diabetes leads to hyperglycemia (high blood sugar), which damages many systems in the body, including the blood vessels and nervous system.
How Does Diabetes Affect The Eyes?
Diabetic eye disease is a group of conditions caused or worsened by diabetes, including diabetic retinopathy, diabetic macular edema, glaucoma, and cataracts. Diabetes increases the risk of cataracts by four times and can also cause dryness and reduce cornea sensation.
In diabetic retinopathy, the tiny blood vessels within the eyes become damaged over time, causing leakage, poor oxygen circulation, and scarring of the sensitive tissue within the retina. This can lead to further cell damage and scarring.
The longer someone has diabetes and the higher their blood sugar levels, the greater the chances of developing diabetic eye disease. Unlike many other vision-threatening conditions, diabetic eye disease is one of the main causes of vision loss in the younger, working-age population. If not caught early, these eye conditions can lead to blindness. In fact, 2.6% of blindness worldwide is caused by diabetes.
Diabetic Retinopathy
As mentioned above, diabetes can result in cumulative damage to the blood vessels in the retina, the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye. This condition is called diabetic retinopathy.
The retina converts light into visual signals for the optic nerve in the brain. High blood sugar levels can cause blood vessels in the retina to leak or hemorrhage, leading to bleeding and distorted vision. In advanced stages, new blood vessels may grow on the retinal surface, causing scarring and further damage. Diabetic retinopathy can eventually lead to blindness.
Signs and Symptoms of Diabetic Retinopathy
The early stages of diabetic retinopathy often show no symptoms, making regular eye exams critical for early detection. As the condition progresses, symptoms may include:
- Blurred or fluctuating vision
- Floaters (dark spots or strings that appear to float in your visual field)
- Blind spots
- Color vision loss
If left untreated, diabetic retinopathy can lead to retinal detachment and macular edema — both serious conditions that threaten vision.
Retinal Detachment
Scar tissue from the breaking and forming of blood vessels in advanced retinopathy can lead to retinal detachment, where the retina pulls away from the underlying tissue. This is a medical emergency and requires immediate treatment to avoid permanent vision loss. Signs of retinal detachment include sudden floaters or flashes in vision.
Diabetic Macular Edema (DME)
DME occurs when the macula, the part of the retina responsible for central vision, becomes swollen with fluid. This complication of diabetic retinopathy can result in significant vision loss.
Treatment for Diabetic Retinopathy and Diabetic Macular Edema
Although vision loss from diabetic retinopathy and DME is often irreversible, early detection allows for some preventative treatments. Treatments may include:
- Laser surgery for proliferative diabetic retinopathy (when abnormal blood vessels begin to grow)
- Injections or a vitrectomy (removal of the vitreous gel) for bleeding caused by ruptured blood vessels
- Injection therapy or corticosteroids for diabetic macular edema
Prevent Vision Loss from Diabetes
The best way to prevent vision loss from diabetic eye disease is early detection and treatment. Since there may be no symptoms in the early stages, regular diabetic eye exams are essential for early diagnosis. Keeping diabetes under control through exercise, diet, medication, and regular screenings will help reduce the chances of vision loss and blindness from diabetes.
Consult our doctors at Eyes on Group to book an eye exam and get personalized diabetic eye care solutions. Don’t wait for symptoms to appear—early detection is key to preserving your vision.