What you need to know about diabetes and eye health
Blurry vision means it’s harder to make out fine details in what you’re seeing. It can be a minor problem that can be resolved by taking eye drops. Other times, it’s a sign of something more serious like diabetes.
Blurry eyes can be a first sign of diabetes. Several causes can stem from diabetes, as it may be a sign your glucose level is not in the right range — either too high or too low. The reason your sight blurs may be fluid leaking into the lens of your eye. This makes the lens swell and change shape. Those changes make it hard for your eyes to focus, so things start to look fuzzy.
You may also get blurred vision when you start insulin treatment. This is due to shifting fluids, but it generally resolves after a few weeks. For many people, as blood sugar levels stabilise, so does their vision.
Diabetic retinopathy
Causes of blurry vision in the longer term can include diabetic retinopathy, a term that describes retinal disorders caused by diabetes. There are 4 defined stages towards diabetic retinopathy. Most people don’t show symptoms of diabetic retinopathy until it has progressed to stage 4. Symptoms at this stage include:
blurry vision
eye floaters
difficulty seeing at night
loss of vision
distorted vision
color changes in vision
While diabetic retinopathy can’t be reversed, it can be stabilised with treatment.
Cataracts
You might also have blurry vision if you’re developing cataracts. People with diabetes tend to develop cataracts at a younger age than other adults. Cataracts cause the lens of your eyes to become cloudy. Other symptoms include:
faded colors
clouded or blurry vision
double vision, usually in just one eye
sensitivity to light
glare or halos around lights
vision that doesn’t improve with new glasses or a prescription that must be changed often
Hyperglycaemia
Hyperglycaemia results from glucose building up in the blood when the body lacks enough insulin to process it. Besides blurred vision, other symptoms of hyperglycaemia include:
headache
fatigue
increased thirst and urination
Managing your glucose levels to avoid hyperglycaemia is important because, over time, poor blood sugar control can lead to more problems with sight and potentially increase the risk of irreversible blindness.
Glaucoma
Blurry vision can also be a symptom of glaucoma, a disease in which pressure in your eye damages the optic nerve. If you have diabetes, your risk of glaucoma is double that of other adults.
Other symptoms of glaucoma may include:
loss of peripheral vision or tunnel vision
halos around lights
reddening of the eyes
ocular (eye) pain
nausea or vomiting
Macular oedema
The macula is the center of the retina, and it’s the part of the eye that gives you sharp central vision. Macular oedema is when the macula swells due to leaking fluid. Other symptoms of macular oedema include wavy vision and colour changes. Diabetic macular oedema stems from diabetic retinopathy. It usually affects both eyes.
Eye care
If you have diabetes, you’re at increased risk for a variety of eye problems. It’s important to manage your blood sugar, follow all medications and directions for testing, and have regular check-ups and eye exams. This should include a comprehensive eye exam with dilation every year. Be sure to tell your doctor about all of your symptoms, as well as all the medications you take.
Takeaway
Blurred vision can be a minor problem with a quick fix, such as eye drops or a new prescription for your eyeglasses. However, it can also indicate a serious eye disease or an underlying condition other than diabetes. That’s why you should report blurry vision and other vision changes to your doctor. In many cases, early treatment can correct the problem or prevent it from getting worse.
Extracts taken from Ann Pietrangelo and Daniel Potte, taken from www.healthline.com