Safe, Natural Tips to Avoid Losing Eyesight Due to Diabetes

Doctor,With,Human,Eye,Anatomy,Model,With,Magnifying,Glass.,Eye

Diabetes can have devastating effects on various organs, and that includes the eyes. In fact, according to one study, 26.43% of diabetics have an eye condition that could result in blindness. But that doesn’t have to be your experience.

In this article, we’ll explore:

  • The causes of losing eyesight due to diabetes
  • Common symptoms of diabetes-related eye conditions
  • Conventional treatment options
  • How to protect your vision and overall health naturally

Diabetes eyesight problems: causes and symptoms

Here are the most common eye conditions caused by unmanaged diabetes, and their typical symptoms.

Diabetic retinopathy

Diabetic retinopathy is the leading cause of vision loss for diabetics. 

Over time, high blood sugar levels can damage the small blood vessels in the retina–the part of the eye that’s sensitive to light. This damage can lead to blood and fluid leaks, causing retinal tissue to swell. 

Over time, this condition can worsen as the retina’s blood supply is cut off, prompting the growth of fragile, abnormal blood vessels that are prone to further leakage.

Diabetic retinopathy symptoms 

Initially, symptoms might be absent or mild. But they can progress to:

  • Floaters (dark spots, lines, or squiggles in your eyesight)
  • Blurry vision
  • Dark areas in your vision
  • Difficulty perceiving colors
  • Blindness, if left untreated

Stages of diabetic retinopathy

Diabetic retinopathy progresses through two main stages:

  • Non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR): Often the first stage where blood vessels in the retina begin to leak. While vision may not yet be affected, monitoring is crucial.
  • Proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR): This advanced stage involves the growth of new blood vessels that can bleed easily, potentially leading to retinal detachment and severe vision loss.

While early stages of diabetic retinopathy require only regular monitoring, advanced stages may demand more aggressive treatments, such as surgery.

Diabetic macular edema (DME)

DME is a serious condition that can develop from untreated diabetic retinopathy. 

It stems from swelling of the macula, the area of the retina that enables detailed and central vision–vital for activities like reading, driving, and recognizing faces.

With DME, the macula swells due to fluid leakage from blood vessels weakened by high blood sugar levels. While it can occur at any stage of diabetic retinopathy, its likelihood increases as the disease progresses. 

Diabetic macular edema symptoms

Early-stage DME often has no noticeable symptoms. However, if untreated, you may notice signs like:

  • Blurred vision
  • Distorted vision (straight lines appear squiggly)
  • Floaters
  • Double vision
  • Faded or washed-out colors
  • Eventually, blindness

Ongoing eye exams are critical for early detection and management of DME.

Branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO)

BRVO is the second most common retinal vascular disease, primarily resulting from blockages in the retinal veins. These blockages cause blood and fluid to leak into the retina, impairing eyesight.

Several diabetes-related factors increase the risk of BRVO:

  • High blood pressure, which is prevalent in diabetics, is a significant contributor.
  • Diabetes damages retinal blood vessels, increasing their susceptibility to occlusions.
  • Thickened arteries–a consequence of diabetes–can compress and obstruct nearby retinal veins, disrupting blood flow.
  • Glaucoma, another eye condition associated with diabetes, heightens the risk of developing BRVO.
Related:   Protecting Against Diabetes with Diet Changes

BRVO symptoms

The most common symptoms of BRVO include:

  • Sudden vision loss
  • Blurred vision
  • Floaters 
  • Blind spots in part of the eye

Central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO)

Diabetes also increases the risk of developing CRVO, another severe eye condition resulting from endothelial damage and abnormal blood flow.

CRVO occurs when a blood clot blocks the main vein draining the retina, leaking blood and fluid into the retina. This leakage swells the macula and severely affects central vision. 

Over time, the disruption in blood flow can cause nerve cell death, exacerbating vision loss.

CRVO symptoms

The main symptoms of CRVO are:

  • Gradual or sudden vision loss or blurriness in one eye, which may worsen over several hours or days
  • Floaters 
  • Pain or increased pressure in the eyes
  • In severe cases, complete and immediate vision loss 

Cataracts

While cataracts can develop for anyone with age, diabetics have a 2-5 times greater risk–and often get them earlier and more rapidly. 

Cataracts cloud the eye’s lens, obscuring vision and making everyday tasks more difficult. Diabetes can contribute to their development in several ways:

  • Uncontrolled diabetes can accelerate age-related lens clouding, leading to earlier cataract formation.
  • High blood sugar damages the tiny blood vessels that supply the lens.
  • The aqueous humor, a fluid that nourishes the lens, can have high glucose levels that cause the lens to swell and become less clear.
  • Excess glucose is converted to sorbitol by enzymes in the lens, clouding the lens by affecting its proteins and cells.

Cataract symptoms

Common cataract symptoms include:

  • Cloudy, blurry, or dim vision
  • Impaired night vision
  • Sensitivity to light and glare
  • “Halos” around lights
  • Frequent prescription eyeglasses or contact changes

Glaucoma

Glaucoma is a group of eye conditions that damage the optic nerve, namely due to high pressure inside the eye. 

Compared to non-diabetics, people with diabetes are 36% more likely to develop open-angle glaucoma (a condition in which fluid drains too slowly through the eye’s natural filtration angle, causing buildup). This is the most common type and progresses slowly.

Glaucoma symptoms

In its early stages, open-angle glaucoma may not present any symptoms. As it progresses, you might experience:

  • Difficulty seeing in low light or adjusting to changing lighting conditions
  • Gradual peripheral vision loss
  • Tunnel vision

Other forms of glaucoma may manifest as: 

  • Headaches
  • Eye pain
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting 

It’s crucial to catch this disease early, as symptoms typically appear only when it’s quite advanced.

Vision problems without eye disease

Diabetes can also lead to vision issues without the presence of specific eye diseases. Common symptoms include:

  • Blurry vision: Rapid changes in blood sugar levels can change the shape of the eye’s lens, causing temporary blurry vision. This is often one of the earliest signs of diabetes–but fortunately, it’s reversible once blood sugar levels stabilize. 
  • Double vision: Diabetes can also affect the nerves that control eye movement, potentially leading to double vision as these nerves become damaged.
Related:   How to Cure Diabetes

As you can see, diabetes-related eye conditions can be debilitating if left untreated. See your healthcare provider for routine screenings, and stabilize your blood sugar levels to prevent complications.

Treatments for diabetes-related eye conditions

Conventional medical treatments vary depending on the specific eye condition, but they may include:

  • Laser surgery: Focused laser treatments can stop or slow blood and fluid leakage in the eye or shrink abnormal blood vessels. These are used for advanced diabetic retinopathy, BRVO, CRVO, and other severe conditions.
  • Other surgeries: Cataract surgery involves removing the cloudy lens and replacing it with an artificial one, restoring vision. 
  • Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) Inhibitors: These injections reduce retinal swelling and slow the progression of diabetic retinopathy.
  • Medicated eye drops: These can reduce eye pressure in glaucoma patients.
  • Corticosteroid injections or implants: Steroids like fluocinolone acetonide can be injected or placed as slow-release implants to reduce inflammation.

While these treatments can be effective, they’re quite invasive. That’s why it’s so critical to get regular eye exams and practice healthy lifestyle habits–so you can avoid serious complications and such extreme measures.

How to prevent loss of vision due to diabetes

The best approach to preventing diabetes-related vision loss involves a comprehensive lifestyle strategy, including:

  • Diet: Focus on foods that stabilize blood sugar levels, including antioxidant-rich fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats. Avoid high-sugar, processed foods and saturated fats. 
  • Exercise: Regular physical activity regulates blood sugar levels and supports blood vessel health, helping to prevent diabetes-related eye problems. It also promotes healthy weight maintenance. Include a mix of cardiovascular and strength-training exercises.
  • Avoiding cigarettes: Smoking can elevate blood sugar levels and damage blood vessels–both of which are especially dangerous for diabetics. If you smoke, now is the time to quit.
  • Regular eye exams: Annual eye exams are crucial for diabetics. See your healthcare provider regularly–before vision issues arise.

Millions of adults across the globe are at risk of losing their eyesight due to diabetes. But you don’t have to be one of them.

By adopting the healthy lifestyle tips outlined above, getting annual eye exams, and managing your disease, you can reduce the risk of serious complications–and continue seeing all the beauty life has to offer.

References:

Blindness among Patients with Type II Diabetes Mellitus Presenting to the Outpatient Department of Ophthalmology of a Tertiary Care Centre: A Descriptive Cross-sectional Study – PMC

Prevalence of Diabetic Retinopathy in the US in 2021

Comprehensive Review of the Effects of Diabetes on Ocular Health – PMC

Diabetic retinopathy as the leading cause of blindness and early predictor of cascading complications—risks and mitigation

Diabetic Retinopathy – StatPearls – NCBI Bookshelf

Diabetes and Retinal Vascular Dysfunction – PMC

Related:   Green Tea Benefits: Blood Sugar Control and Gut Health Support

A Comprehensive Review of the Vascular Consequences of Diabetes in the Lower Extremities: Current Approaches to Management and Evaluation of Clinical Outcomes

Diabetic Retinopathy: A Position Statement by the American Diabetes Association – PMC

Non-Invasive Treatment of Early Diabetic Macular Edema by Multiwavelength Photobiomodulation with the Valeda Light Delivery System – PMC

Laser Treatment Modalities for Diabetic Retinopathy – PMC

The role of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) in the management of proliferative diabetic retinopathy – PMC

Surgical Management of Diabetic Retinopathy – PMC

Update on Management of Non-proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy without Diabetic Macular Edema; Is There a Paradigm Shift? – PMC

Time to Diabetic Retinopathy and Its Risk Factors among Diabetes Mellitus Patients in Jimma University Medical Center, Jimma, Southwest Ethiopia – PMC

Managing diabetic macular edema: The leading cause of diabetes blindness – PMC

Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy Diagnosis Using Varying-Scales Filter Banks and Double-Layered Thresholding – PMC

Update on Current and Future Management for Diabetic Maculopathy | Ophthalmology and Therapy

Updates on the Current Treatments for Diabetic Retinopathy and Possibility of Future Oral Therapy – PMC

Branch Retinal Vein Occlusion – StatPearls – NCBI Bookshelf

Cataract in diabetes mellitus – PMC

Comprehensive Review of the Effects of Diabetes on Ocular Health – PMC

Natural Antioxidant Activities of Plants in Preventing Cataractogenesis – PMC

Effects of cataract surgery and intra-ocular lens implantation on visual function and quality of life in age-related cataract patients: a systematic review protocol – PMC

Diabetes and risk of glaucoma: systematic review and a Meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies – PMC

Open Angle Glaucoma – StatPearls – NCBI Bookshelf

What do patients with glaucoma see? Visual symptoms reported by patients with glaucoma.

The Diagnosis and Treatment of Glaucoma – PMC

Diabetic Retinopathy and Diabetic Macular Edema – PMC

Diabetic Macular Edema: Is Your Patient Going Blind? – PMC

Updates on the Clinical Trials in Diabetic Macular Edema – PMC.

Current Treatments for Diabetic Macular Edema – PMC

Faricimab for the Treatment of Diabetic Macular Edema and Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration – PMC

Influence of diabetes and diabetes type on anatomic and visual outcomes following central rein vein occlusion.

Update on the Effects of Antioxidants on Diabetic Retinopathy: In Vitro Experiments, Animal Studies and Clinical Trials – PMC

Certain Dietary Nutrients Reduce the Risk of Eye Affliction/Retinopathy in Individuals with Diabetes: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2003–2018 – PMC

Effect of physical activity on reducing the risk of diabetic retinopathy progression: 10-year prospective findings from the 45 and Up Study

The effect of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise on non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy in type II diabetes mellitus patients: A clinical trial – ScienceDirect.

Weight Reduction as an Adjunctive Management Strategy for Diabetic Retinopathy – PMC

Smoking and diabetes: dangerous liaisons and confusing relationships – PMC

Impact of cigarette smoking in type 2 diabetes development – PMC

Diabetic Retinopathy and Eye Screening: Diabetic Patients Standpoint, Their Practice, and Barriers; A Cross-Sectional Study

 

Author
Carrie Solomon

Carrie Solomon is a freelance health writer, web copywriter, and passionate wellness enthusiast. She’s on a mission to help wellness-focused companies everywhere educate, engage, and inspire their audiences to make the world a healthier, happier place. Learn more about her at copybycarrie.com or on LinkedIn.

Be the first to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.


*