Notice blurry vision, dark spots, or floaters? Colors appear a bit dull?
Check for Diabetes-related eye problems
Did You Know?
About one in three people with diabetes above 40 already have some signs of diabetic retinopathy
Crack The Code!
Diabetes
and the Eye
.png)
Diabetic eye disease is a group of eye problems, including diabetic retinopathy, diabetic macular edema, cataracts, and glaucoma.
Over time, diabetes can cause damage to the eyes that can lead to poor vision or even blindness.
​
But you can take steps to prevent diabetic eye disease or keep it from getting worse.
Eye Talk Detailed Interpretation
Diabetes Retinopathy
If Your answer was positive to one or more of the answers, your diabetes could be alerting you to get your eyes checked to rule out diabetes retinopathy.
What could Diabetes be saying?
Here is what you should know:
The very early stages of diabetic retinopathy usually don’t have any symptoms. Some people notice changes in their vision, like trouble reading or seeing faraway objects. These changes may come and go.
​
Here are some of the early signs of retinopathy:
-
seeing floaters – these look like wispy clouds, floating in and out of your vision
-
dimmer vision – like you’re wearing sunglasses all the time
-
struggling to see when it’s dark.
​
In the later stages of the disease, blood vessels in the retina start to bleed into the vitreous (gel-like fluid that fills your eye). If this happens, you may see dark, floating spots or streaks that look like cobwebs.
Diabetes Cataract
If Your answer was positive to one or more of the answers, your diabetes could be alerting you to get your eyes checked to rule out cataracts.
What Could Diabetes Be Saying?
When you have diabetes, high blood sugar (blood glucose) levels over time can lead to structural changes in the lens of the eye that can accelerate the development of cataracts and lead to the changes mentioned in the question.
Diabetes Glaucoma
If Your answer was positive to one or more of the answers, your diabetes could be alerting you to get your eyes checked to rule out glaucoma.
What Could Diabetes Be Saying?
Diabetes doubles the chances of having glaucoma, which can lead to vision loss and blindness if not treated early. At first, glaucoma doesn’t usually have any symptoms. That’s why half of people with glaucoma don’t even know they have it.
​
Over time, you may slowly lose vision, usually starting with your side (peripheral) vision — especially the part of your vision that’s closest to your nose.
Because it happens so slowly, many people can’t tell that their vision is changing at first. But as the disease gets worse, you may start to notice that you can’t see things off to the side anymore.
Nurturing
Your Eyes
Dos and Don'ts
​
To prevent diabetic eye disease, or to keep it from getting worse, manage your diabetes ABCs: your A1c, blood pressure, and cholesterol; and quit smoking if you smoke.
​
Have a dilated eye exam at least once a year—or more often if recommended by your eye care professional.
​
​
References: Based on Published Medical Literature. All references are on file. For details please connect with us at hsa@obesityinternational.org