Diabetes and your eyes
Diabetes is the leading cause of blindness in the United States for adults ages 20 to 74. Here are things you can do to help prevent blindness:
- Keep your blood glucose and blood pressure within your target range.
- Do not smoke.
- Avoid weight lifting if you have proliferative retinopathy, the most advanced stage of diabetic retinopathy.
- Have regular eye exams.
Yearly eye exams
Whether you have type 1 or type 2 diabetes, it is important have a dilated eye exam every year. You may need eye exams more often if you have a progressive eye disease.
Eye problems can be severe before you notice any changes in your vision. Yearly visits to an ophthalmologist, a doctor specializing in eye diseases and eye surgery, can help save your sight.
Your eye doctor will check for eye diseases that happen more often in people with diabetes:
Your primary health care provider will want to see the results of your eye exam and make it part of your medical record.
Diabetic retinopathy
Nearly half of Americans with diabetes have retinopathy.
Diabetic retinopathy happens when diabetes damages blood vessels in the retina. In the early stages of this eye disease, retinal blood vessels leak. This can reduce eyesight or cause blindness.
This can also be a problem during pregnancy. That is why doctors often recommend additional eye exams for pregnant woman with diabetes.
When to call your eye doctor
Call your eye care provider right away if you have any of these symptoms:
- flashes of light
- floating black spots
- double or blurred vision
- eye pain.
The earlier you notice eye problems, the better your chances are of keeping good vision.
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Ophthalmology (eye care) specialists Guidelines for diabetes care
Source: Allina Patient Education, Chronic Complications of Diabetes, dia-ahc-22309; Allina Patient Education, Eye Exams for People with Diabetes, eye-amc-31571; American Diabetes Association; National Eye Institute
First published: 02/16/2007
Last updated: 02/08/2010
Reviewed by: Mary Frederick, RN, MS, CDE, diabetes program manager, Allina Medical Clinic - Diabetes Education; Dawn McCarter, RN, BSN, CDE, diabetes program coordinator, Allina Medical Clinic - Diabetes Education
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