Did you know that November is Diabetic Eye Disease Awareness Month? This is a group of eye conditions that disproportionately affect those with diabetes.

These conditions include diabetic retinopathy, diabetic macular edema, cataracts, and glaucoma. Diabetes can cause damage to your eyes due to high blood sugar levels.

Over time, the damage caused by diabetes can worsen. What may start as simple vision loss can lead to eventual blindness in one or both eyes.

It is important to monitor your diabetes, as well as your vision. Talk with your eye doctor about what you can do to prevent eye damage caused by diabetes.

One of the best defenses to safeguard your eyes against diabetic eye diseases is a healthy diet. Having a diet that’s rich in vitamin A, vitamin E, vitamin C, and omega 3 fatty acids are proven to help protect and strengthen your eyes.

Foods in these categories include nuts, fruits, vegetables, and oily fish like tuna. Keep reading to learn more about diabetes and how it affects your vision!
 

How Diabetes Affects Your Vision

Diabetes causes high blood glucose levels, which can cause vision impairment. When you are first diagnosed with diabetes, you may not notice any significant changes to your vision.

Many younger patients only notice blurry vision when they change their diabetes treatment or medication. This can make it hard for your eyes to focus, which can cause blurry vision.

Over time, high glucose levels can damage the blood vessels in the back of your eye. This is where your optic nerve is located.

The damage caused by these blood vessels can cause vision loss. At first, it may only be slight vision loss that is correctable with glasses or contact lenses. Eventually, the vision loss can become so severe that glasses or contacts will no longer help.

Here is some information about each of the main eye conditions that are linked to diabetes.
 

Diabetic Retinopathy

Your retina is the part of your eye that senses light and relays that information back to your brain. The blood vessel damage caused by high glucose levels can cause harm to your retina.

When the damaged blood vessels close off, new blood vessels grow in their place. This is a condition called diabetic retinopathy.

The new blood vessels can grow on the surface of your retina and can cause serious vision problems.

Diabetic Macular Edema

The macula is the part of your retina that helps you drive, read, and distinguish shapes and colors. Swelling in the macula caused by diabetes is called diabetic macular edema.

This disease can cause your vision to lose sharpness. You can eventually become partially or completely blind. Diabetic macular edema commonly occurs in patients who already show signs of diabetic retinopathy.
 

Cataracts

Diabetes can increase your chances of developing cataracts. This is a clouding of the natural lens of your eye.

Cataracts can cause blurred vision and vision loss. They can also cause you to see halos around lights, making it harder to see while driving at night.
 

Glaucoma

High blood glucose levels can cause glaucoma, leading to high intraocular pressure. There are several different types of glaucoma, but they all lead to a damaged optic nerve.

Your optic nerve communicates with your brain to tell you what you are seeing. If the optic nerve suffers any damage, this is irreversible and detrimental to your vision.

One of the best ways to make sure that your eyes are healthy is through regular eye exams. Schedule yours today with Coastal Vision at one of our convenient locations in Irvine, Long Beach, Norco, or Orange, CA today!