Diabetes Can Put Your Eyes At Risk

You’ve probably heard that your eyes are a window into your soul; as doctors, they serve as a window into your health and wellbeing as well! Your eye and overall health are inextricably linked, but issues like diabetes can increase the risk of developing a range of vision-threatening eye diseases and conditions.

Family EyeCare Center Optometry is committed to managing your eye health with genuine, comprehensive care. Book a diabetic eye exam in Campbell, CA today and discover the many ways our doctors can help you!

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What is Diabetes?

Diabetes is a systemic disease that affects how your body processes sugar, also known as glucose. A hormone produced by your pancreas, known as insulin, transports glucose into your blood cells. However, diabetes can affect how your body produces or uses insulin, leading to high glucose levels in your bloodstream that can affect your heart, gums, and eyes.

Diabetes increases the risk of developing various diseases, and high blood sugar may cause bouts of blurry vision, fatigue, or extreme hunger. Only family doctors can diagnose diabetes, but our team can detect early warning signs during a comprehensive eye exam.

Common Eye Diseases & Conditions Linked to Diabetes

High blood sugar can increase the risk of several diseases and conditions, including heart disease, nerve damage, skin conditions, and even Alzheimer’s disease. However, diabetes can also increase the risk of developing sight-stealing diseases with little to no noticeable early symptoms.

If you have diabetes, we recommend having annual eye exams to help preserve your vision and eye health.

Diabetic Retinopathy

Diabetic retinopathy is an eye disease that occurs when high blood sugar levels cause the blood vessels in your retina to bulge, break, and leak fluid. These leaks can develop with no noticeable symptoms, but they eventually cause vision loss over time.

Depending on how severe your case is, broken blood vessels may create scar tissue on your retina, increasing the risk of retinal detachment and permanent vision loss.

Diabetic Macular Edema

Diabetic macular edema is an eye disease that often develops as a result of diabetic retinopathy. As fluids leak from damaged blood vessels in your retina, these fluids may pool underneath your macula—the centermost part of your retina responsible for providing sharp, crisp central vision—causing it to swell.

If you develop diabetic macular edema, you may lose your ability to see fine details, read, or recognize faces.

Open-Angle Glaucoma

Diabetes can double your risk of developing open-angle glaucoma.

Open-angle glaucoma is the most common type of glaucoma, a disease that damages your optic nerve over time.

Open-angle glaucoma occurs when your eye’s internal pressure increases and puts pressure on your optic nerve—a part of your retina that sends images for your brain to interpret. As your intraocular pressure increases, you may lose parts of your peripheral vision before experiencing complete vision loss.

Cataracts

Cataracts are the leading cause of blindness worldwide, and most people develop some degree of cataract at some point in their life. Diabetes increases your risk of developing cataracts earlier in your life, but you may be able to correct the vision errors it causes with eyeglasses or contact lenses.

In advanced stages, surgery can remove the cataract lens and replace it with an artificial one.

Start Preserving Your Vision Today

Diabetes may be common among Americans, but this doesn’t mean that diabetes controls your life.

Our team is ready to provide you and your loved ones with comprehensive, compassionate care as unique as your needs. Find out how we can support your eye health today and book an appointment!

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Find our practice on East Hamilton Drive right next to 7 Leaves Cafe. Parking is behind our building with accessible options available. Same day appointments available! Welcoming new patients.