For patients between the ages of 20 and 74, diabetes is the lead cause of blindness in the U.S. The diabetic vision problems which most commonly lead to blindness are proliferative diabetic retinopathy and macular edema, according to EyeAssociates.com. Both of these conditions are treatable if detected early.

Fluctuation in vision is a common symptom of diabetes. These fluctuations are caused by the ups and downs of blood sugar levels. As blood sugar levels change the shape of the human crystalline lens changes as well.  This is only a temporary change, so before prescribing eye glasses to a diabetic patient, doctors will usually retest the patient on another day.

Muscular edema is a swelling of the muscular tissue that lies in the center of the retina. It normally doesn’t cause complete vision loss, but the loss of visual accuracy. This swelling can be detected through a dilated retinal exam. It …

Diabetes can wreak havoc all over the body, including the eyes. Diabetic vision loss is one of the most serious side effects associated with diabetes. The American Diabetes Associate reports that diabetes is the leading cause of new cases of blindness among adults in the United States each year. People affected with type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus are at risk of developing partial or complete vision loss. Eye problems that develop as a result of diabetes are often a side effect of the blood vessel damage caused by the disease. When the blood vessels in the eye’s retina become damaged, diabetic vision can be seriously compromised. The retina is the membrane that lines the inner eyeball and is sensitive to light. It is connected to the brain by the optic nerve. Dangerous spikes in blood sugar, also known as diabetic hyperglycemia, put the eyes at risk each they …