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4 Ways Diabetes Can Affect Your Eyes
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Diabetes is a condition that's caused when blood sugar within the body becomes too high and can affect people of all ages. There are numerous side-effects of experiencing diabetes in fact it is a condition that should be taken seriously and monitored closely. Looking after your eyes if you have diabetes is vital as getting the condition can cause eye problems, which if not looked after correctly, can result in deterioration and potential irreversible eye damage. In this article I will look at 4 ways diabetes can affect the eyes.
1. Diabetic Retinopathy

Diabetic retinopathy is just about the common complication of experiencing diabetes and should be taken seriously as it could result in blindness. Diabetic retinopathy affects the retina, which is the trunk of eye. The retina may be the part of the eye that converts the light we see into signals which are sent to the mind via the optic nerve, that is then processed by the brain into the images that we see. Diabetic retinopathy is caused when the small blood vessels on your own retina become blocked, leak or grow abnormality because of the high blood sugar. There are 3 types of diabetic retinopathy;

I. Background diabetic retinopathy ? this kind may be the very early changes to the retina, it doesn?t normally affect sight but should be monitored carefully to ensure it doesn?t become worse.

II. Diabetic maculopathy ? this type is when the background diabetic retinopathy is rolling out on or about the macular. The macular is essential when giving good vision since it provides central vision. Having diabetic maculopathy can affect sight.

III. Proliferative diabetic retinopathy ? this type is caused when background diabetic retinopathy become worse. Once the arteries become damaged or blocked in a large area by the aforementioned two types it causes a lower life expectancy supply of blood to the retina. The body tries to pay this by growing new vessels on the retina?s surface, but these vessels are generally very weak and bleed, which in turn make a difference the vision. The bleeding also can cause scarring which pulls on the retina, this can result in a retinal detachment. While retinal detachments can be fixed, sometimes this may not be possible, leading to impaired vision or blindness.

2. Cataracts

While developing cataracts is incredibly common and a section of the eyes natural aging process, people who have diabetes can develop cataracts earlier and faster. Cataracts are caused by the eyes ageing, becoming cloudy and much more rigid. Outward indications of cataracts are generally blurred vision and glare or halos, especially at night time. Cataracts are usually easily removed by undergoing cataract surgery and in its place an artificial intraocular lens is implanted to restore vision.

3. Glaucoma

Glaucoma is caused by an increase in the attention?s pressure. Pressure develops once the eye?s fluid cannot be drained as normal. This can then cause damage to the blood vessels and nerves within the eye leading to impaired vision, and if not monitored and treated correctly, can cause blindness. Assuming you have diabetes, you are more likely to develop a rare glaucoma called neovascular glaucoma. This type of rare glaucoma is caused when new arteries develop and grow on the iris, which is the coloured part of the eye, which blocks the normal flow of eye fluid and subsequently increases the eye?s internal pressure. While regular forms of glaucoma can be treated with eye drops and possible surgery if needed, neovascular glaucoma is difficult to treat and laser surgery or implants may have to be used to control the glaucoma.

4. Blurred read more

Blurred vision may be caused by another thing, such as cataracts, however when you have diabetes it could sometimes be caused by an imbalance of one's blood sugar levels that may easily be rectified. The high blood sugar levels can cause the lens inside your eye to swell, which gives a blurry vision effect. To treat this, you may just need to get your blood sugar levels back in order and within limit. It may take a couple of months for the blurred vision to disappear. If you do develop blurred vision, make an appointment with your GP and optician or eye clinic, so they can make sure it really is nothing more serious.

Remember if you have diabetes to really get your eyes checked regularly. Everyone over the age of 12 with diabetes should be invited to a yearly diabetic eye screening and it is important not to miss this. Early detection of diabetic eye diseases could save your vision.

Author: Samer Hamada is a distinguished consultant ophthalmologist and cornea surgeon performing eye surgeries at his practice, Eye Clinic London. With nearly two decades? experience, Mr. Hamada is recognised as a leading expert in neuro-scientific cataract, refractive lens exchange (RLE) and corneal surgeries.

Please visit http://eyecliniclondon.com/

Please call 0800 197 8808 for friendly advice and information.

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