Contrary to common belief, people with diabetes need regular eye exams. If you have diabetes, it is imperative that you see an eye specialist near you at least once a year to rule out any complications such as cataracts and glaucoma that are common among people who have high blood sugar levels. According to doctors, diabetes is the primary cause of partial and total blindness in adults aged 20-75.
If you have diabetes, it is important that you take good care of your eyes. While diabetes can harm your eyes, the good news is that you can take proper steps to keep your vision clear and your eyes healthy.
Listed below are a few eye conditions that you can develop if your diabetes is left unattended.
Blurry Vision: If your vision goes blurry, do not go and buy a pair of new glasses. If you have diabetes, it is likely that your blood sugar levels may have shot up. In order to correct it, see a doctor who will put you on a regimen to bring down your sugar levels in the acceptable range of 70-130 mg/dL. While it may take a few months before your vision is back to normal, it is better to work on the root cause than mask it by buying glasses to see better.
Diabetic Retinopathy: Diabetic retinopathy is prevalent among those who have diabetes. In fact, nearly one-third of those over the age of 50 and suffering from diabetes also suffer from diabetic retinopathy. Diabetic retinopathy stems from damage caused to the retina when the blood flow to your eyes reduces. If left untreated, diabetic retinopathy can lead to other complications such as glaucoma and macular edema. If you experience symptoms such as difficulty focusing on an object for long, altered color vision, empty areas in your field of vision, you must see your doctor immediately. This condition affects both eyes and in nearly the same measure.
Cataracts: Your eyes' lenses begin to get cloudy after the age of 60, which is indicative of cataracts. However, if you have diabetes, high sugar levels in your bloodstream can cause a buildup on your lens and make cataracts happen much sooner than they would. According to doctors, diabetes doubles the risk of developing premature cataracts. Once cataracts set in, the only treatment is to remove them through surgery.
Macular Edema: The macula or the eye is that part of the organ responsible for sending out bright and clear images to your brain. If you have diabetes, the blood vessels in your retina can bulge out and leak into the macula of your eyes. It causes the macula to swell up, which in turn can turn to make your vision wavy or fuzzy.
There are several tips to keep your eyes healthy even if you have diabetes. To know more about how to care for your eyes, you must set up an appointment for an eye checkup near you. Your doctor will examine your eyes and give you tips on caring for your eyes, especially if you have diabetes. Contact Bullock's The Eye-Opener for a routine eye checkup to rule out eye conditions due to diabetes. Call us today at 604-739-2015
