Diabetes Can Damage Your Vision

Q: I’m a diabetic. Can my diabetes have an effect on my eye sight?

A: If you have diabetes, as you know, your blood glucose, or blood sugar, levels are too high. Over time, diabetes can damage your vision.

Your retina is the lightsensitive tissue at the back of your eye. You need a healthy retina to see clearly. Diabetic retinopathy damages the tiny blood vessels inside your retina.

You may not notice the symptoms at first but they can include:

• Blurry or double vision • Rings, flashing lights or blank spots

• Dark or floating spots

• Pain or pressure in one or both of your eyes

• Trouble seeing things out of the corners of your eyes

Treatment for diabetic retinopathy often includes laser treatment or surgery.

Two additional issues can potentially occur due to diabetes – cataracts and glaucoma. A cataract is a cloud over the lens of your eye and glaucoma happens when pressure builds up in the eye, damaging the main nerve. Both of these eye problems are treatable and should be dealt with as soon as possible.

If you have diabetes, you should have a complete eye exam every year. Finding and treating problems early may save your vision. At Mann Eye, we offer comprehensive eye care to address all vision concerns. Call 800.MY.VISION or visit manneye.com to schedule an appointment.