Developing an eye condition is a part of every-day life. Sometimes you need a corrective lens to fix the problem. Sometimes you need surgery. But, if you have diabetes it changes how you develop eye conditions. Be careful of these 4 eye conditions if you have diabetes.
1. Glaucoma
Glaucoma is caused by a really high pressure in your eye that damages the optic nerve. In common forms of the disease, there are often no warning signs and symptoms may be gradual. Glaucoma-related vision loss is permanent. And it is one of the main reasons for blindness in the United States.
If you are diabetic, you are twice as likely to develop this condition. This is why it is essential to keep your regular eye exams. Early detection can prevent or slow the progression of glaucoma.
2. Cataracts
Likewise, another eye condition you may be susceptible is cataracts. A cataract looks like a cloudy film over the lens of your eye. Your vision would be similarly impaired, as you would be looking through that film to see.
Cataracts are up to 5 times more likely to develop in diabetics. There are many types of cataracts. Some varieties can be treated with prescription glasses or surgery.
3. Diabetic Retinopathy
Additionally, another eye condition to watch for is diabetic retinopathy. This particular eye condition is specific to anyone with type 1 or type 2 diabetes. Diabetes can damage the tissue in the retina. This happens when there is a blockage of the little blood vessels from too much sugar in your blood. This blockage eventually cuts off the retina’s blood supply. To compensate, the eye will try to grow new, but faulty blood vessels.
4. Macular Edema
And finally, macular edema is an off-shoot of the diabetic retinopathy condition. This occurs when you get microaneurysms that stick out of blood vessel walls in the eye. It leaks blood and other fluid into the retina. The liquid causes the central part of the retina to swell. And, often leads to blindness or other vision problems.
Final Thoughts
One of the best things to protect your vision is keeping your eye exam appointments. Early detection can save your vision. These are serious eye conditions if you have diabetes. And, they can escalate quickly.
