Five Ways Diabetes Can Harm Your Eyes

And Three Ways to Protect Your Vision

- Dr Khor Wei Boon

If you have diabetes, you probably know how important it is to manage your blood sugar. Poorly-controlled diabetes may lead to problems with your kidneys, heart and limbs. But did you know that diabetes can also have a serious impact on your eyesight? High blood sugar can silently damage your eyes over time, leading to vision problems and even blindness. Because these changes often happen gradually, many people may not realise their vision is at risk until the damage has become irreversible. The good news? You have the means to protect your eyes! Here is what you need to know to keep your eyes healthy when living with diabetes.

FIVE WAYS DIABETES HARMS YOUR EYES

There are five ways in which diabetes can harm your eyes. They include:

Damage to the Retina (Diabetic Retinopathy)

If your eye is a camera, then think of the retina as the camera sensor - it captures images and sends them to your brain. But constantly high blood sugar can damage the tiny blood vessels in your retina, causing them to bleed or become blocked. This can lead to dark spots and blurry vision. If left untreated, abnormal blood vessels may also form on the retina, increasing the risks of further bleeding, retinal detachments and even blindness.

Treatment of diabetic retinopathy may include laser therapy and injections of medications into the eye. In advanced cases with excessive bleeding or retinal detachments, surgery may even be needed. It is important to understand that damage to vision may be irreversible, in spite of treatment. As diabetic retinopathy often progresses without symptoms in its early stages, regular eye examinations are critical in its early detection and treatment before permanent damage is done to the eyes.

Swelling of the Macula (Diabetic Macular Edema)