Diabetes has become a global health problem and is a chronic condition that occurs when your body is unable to effectively use… insulin which is produced or when the pancreas stops producing enough insulin, either way there is a risk of high blood sugar, and this can lead to health complications if left untreated, according to the World Health Organization it can be one of the leading causes of blindness, kidney failure, ischemic heart attack and stroke, and lower limb amputation.
In this report, we learn about diabetic retinopathy and the many ways diabetes affects the eye, according to the “Times of India” website.
Ways high blood sugar affects your eyes
There are several ways that high blood sugar or diabetes can affect your eyes.
Excess glucose, or blood sugar, in the bloodstream can damage blood vessels and nerves that circulate throughout the body, including the eyes. This can lead to a number of eye diseases including:
Macular edema: Leaking blood vessels caused by diabetes can cause swelling of the macula, the center of the retina responsible for direct vision.
Cataract: A cloudy buildup in the lens of the eye.
Glaucoma: Damage to blood vessels in the retina, leading to the formation of new abnormal vessels.
Diabetic retinopathy: When changes in the blood vessels in the retina cause leaky blood vessels or abnormal growth of new blood vessels on the surface of the retina.
What is Diabetic Retinopathy?
Diabetes especially damages the delicate inner layer of the eye called the retina, leading to the condition known as diabetic retinopathy.
1 in 3 diabetics suffer from some degree of retinopathy, which is currently the leading cause of blindness.
The Mayo Clinic also highlights the seriousness of the condition and points out that it can go from being asymptomatic to causing minor vision problems, however, if left untreated, it can lead to blindness.
Symptoms to watch out for
While the signs of diabetic retinopathy may not be apparent in the early stages, it can lead to several complications and these include:
Floaters or blackheads in your vision
Blurred vision
Vision fluctuation
Holes in your vision
Vision loss
