Diabetes is a medical condition that occurs when the body is not able to produce the required levels of insulin or use the insulin produced efficiently.
Basically, the role of insulin is to break down the sugar molecules and deliver them to the different parts of the body.
When there is not enough insulin in the body to perform this function, it can lead to high sugar levels.
It is to be noted that this menace can impact virtually every organ of the body, including your eyes. It can cause conditions like glaucoma and cataracts and, in some cases, could even lead to a loss of vision.
Here are the top five ways diabetes can affect your vision:
Cataracts
Our eyes have clear lenses which help us to see things with a focus. But as we grow older, these lenses tend to wear out and become cloudy which results in poor vision.
The medical term for these cloudy lenses is cataracts and is usually common in the elderly. However, people suffering from this disease are more likely to develop cataracts earlier than those who don’t.
Glaucoma
People who are diabetic are also likely to suffer from glaucoma that impacts the optic nerve in the eye.
The most common type of glaucoma is open-angle that can be treated with medication to relieve the pressure in the eye.
Other rare types of glaucoma include neovascular glaucoma which causes blood vessels to grow in the outer iris of the eye.
The patient may go for a laser treatment to lower the number of blood vessels in conjunction with medication to lower the pressure.
Blurry Vision
One of the most common effects of diabetes is blurred vision. This is when the person loses clarity in the eyesight and is unable to see the finer details.
In such conditions, it is imperative to bring the sugar levels back to the normal range of 70-130 mg/dL. It is advisable to consult a retina eye specialist if you have blurred vision because if left untreated, it may lead to some serious problems.
Diabetic macular edema
The macula is a major organ in the retina that is essential for driving, reading and clear vision.
When a person has diabetes, it can cause the macula to swell up, this is known as Diabetic Macular Edema (DME).
This disease can be prevented by maintaining a healthy lifestyle. It is also advisable to go for a master-health checkup in order to ensure that your sugar levels are under control. If you are in Gurgaon, you can consult with Dr. Parul Maheshwari Sharma, the best eye specialist in Gurgaon.
Diabetic retinopathy
People who are 40 years and above in age are prone to develop Diabetic retinopathy.
The best possible way to prevent this disease is through early detection. Studies show that treating this issue before it gets too serious can lower the chances of blindness by 95 percent.
Viaan Eye and Retina Centre is a leading Eye Clinic in Gurgaon that offers eye care services ranging from consulting to Laser eye surgery. In the meantime, if you experience any of the above-mentioned problems, you can schedule an appointment with us.