Although diabetic-related eye issues are preventable, diabetic eye disease remains one of the top causes of blindness in San Antonio. Luckily, the disease can be diagnosed and treated if you consult the right doctor. Here are some essential things to know about diabetic eye disease in San Antonio.
What Is It?
Diabetic eye disease is a broad term used to describe various eye issues that may affect diabetics. The conditions include glaucoma, cataracts, diabetic retinopathy, and diabetic macular edema. Over time, diabetic eye disease may cause blindness. However, it is treatable, and there are a few ways to ensure that it doesn’t worsen. Simple tips for managing diabetes and protect your eye health include:
- Managing your cholesterol, blood glucose, and blood pressure
- Getting a dilated eye exam every year
- Stop smoking if you do
Even when your eyes seem fine, getting a dilated eye exam may reveal underlying issues. In most cases, diabetic eye disease doesn’t present warning signs until it’s too late. Waiting too long to treat it may cause vision loss or blindness.
What Is the Link Between Diabetes and Your Eyes?
When your blood sugar is too high, it may affect your eyesight. You are unlikely to have vision loss in the short term. However, some people experience blurry vision shortly after changing their diabetes medication. High glucose is said to alter the fluid levels in your eye tissues. It may cause swelling in the eye tissues that make it possible to focus. In most cases, this effect doesn’t last long.
If your blood sugar remains high for a long time, it may damage the blood vessels at the back of your eyes. The damage may start manifesting during prediabetes. Diabetes is the point where your blood glucose begins getting higher than usual. However, you may not have been diagnosed with diabetes yet.
When your damaged blood vessels leak, they may cause swelling. Weak blood vessels will start growing, and they may bleed into your eye hence scarring it. They may cause the pressure in your eyes to increase to dangerous levels.
What Are the Symptoms of Diabetic Eye Disease?
Unfortunately, diabetic eye disease may not present any symptoms in the beginning. You may experience no change in vision or pain. When symptoms finally start to show, they may include the following:
- Wavy or blurry vision
- Impaired color vision
- Light flashes
- Changing vision
- Vision loss and dark areas
- Floaters
If you experience any of these symptoms, discuss them with your doctor as soon as possible. They will diagnose you after a full eye exam. During the exam, they will place a few drops in your eyes to widen the pupils. This way, they use magnifying lenses to look at the back of your eye. They will test your vision and the pressure in your eyes. Depending on your health history, they may recommend other tests.
If you suspect that you may have a diabetic eye disease, seek medical attention. Do not assume that your symptoms will automatically go away. Treating the disease early on could save you a lot of trouble in the future.
