Diabetes and eye problems often run hand in hand. This is because high blood pressure will damage the small blood vessels of the eye, which in turn alters its structure and function. There are actually several eye problems associated with diabetes, while other eye problems are due to diabetes. Some diabetes eye problems occur when blood vessels thicken, leak, develop clots, and close off. Sometimes the vessels will even grow balloon-like defects called micro-aneurysms.
There are many other causes leading to eye problems and diabetes vision loss. There have been cases where if the retina is denied its blood supply, new vessels will develop, but they are fragile. If blood vessels in the eye bleed, sometimes it can cause hemorrhages, scar tissue or separation of the retina from the back of the eye. The new vessels may also block fluid flow from the eye, causing glaucoma (WebMd.com, 2011).
