Diabetes and eye disease are two conditions that are typically experienced together when Diabetes has been present for an extended period due to Diabetic Neuropathy, which is nerve damage. Most Diabetics will experience some kind of vision impairment in their lifetime as their disease progresses. Factors such as how well their blood glucose, blood pressure, cholesterol, and serum lipid levels are controlled influence an individual’s likelihood for Diabetes eye disease, in addition to type and duration of diabetes.
Movement of the eye is controlled by muscles and nerves stemming from the brain. These cranial nerves need a constant source of oxygen to function properly. When the blood vessels that transport the oxygen are damaged by high levels of blood glucose, a plethora of vision problems can present, including diplopia or double vision, which can resolve within six months as the nerves regenerate.
Diabetes Related Eye Disease
Diabetes related eye disease could also include Cataracts, which are cloudy or foggy substances on the lens of the eye, which decrease visual acuity. The lens of the eye is similar to the lens of a camera. An example of a cataract is a camera lens that has a smudge on it. The person looking through it will not be able to see light and objects as clearly, as if the lens was clean, or in a person’s case, cataract free. Doctors can treat this issue with corrective glasses and contacts, and sometimes a person may qualify for a lens transplant.
Diabetes eye disease may also involve Glaucoma, which is an increase of fluid and pressure within the eye. People do not experience symptoms, so this disease usually goes undetected until it is advanced and extensive damage to the eye vessels has already been done. In addition to significant vision loss, a person can suffer from headaches, eye pain, halos around lights, and watery eyes. Treatment for eye disease Diabetes can include prescription eye drops, medications, and laser surgery.
Eye Disease Caused By Diabetes
Eye disease caused by Diabetes can occur as a vascular condition, meaning that the same processes that cause damage to the heart and kidneys cause damage to the eyes. More than 24,000 Diabetics will become legally blind each year from their diabetes complications according to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The main reason for vision loss in individual’s aged twenty-five through seventy-four is Diabetic Retinopathy, or damage to the retina.
Movement of the eye is controlled by muscles and nerves stemming from the brain. These cranial nerves need a constant source of oxygen to function properly. When the blood vessels that transport the oxygen are damaged by high levels of blood glucose, Diabetic Retinopathy presents. There are four types of Retinopathy: Background Retinopathy, Maculopathy Retinopathy, Proliferative Retinopathy, and Non-Proliferative Retinopathy. The main difference between these types of Retinopathy is the existence of symptoms, area of damage, and development of new blood vessel formation on the eye. Treatment for these conditions includes medications and laser surgeries as well as controlling blood sugar and blood pressure.
