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DEAR MAYO CLINIC: I was recently diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes. My health care professional shared that I’ll need to have regular eye exams in addition to keeping my blood sugar well controlled. How does diabetes affect the eyes, and why are routine eye exams so important?
ANSWER: Diabetes is a prevalent condition worldwide, affecting approximately 10% of the population. It’s defined as a group of diseases that affect how your body uses blood sugar or glucose. Diabetes is a systemic disease affecting many organs, including the heart, blood vessels, nerves, kidneys and eyes.
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease where the body destroys the cells in the pancreas that produce insulin. Many people think this type of diabetes is only diagnosed in children and teens, but more than half the people diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes are over 30.
Type 2 diabetes is a condition where the pancreas still produces insulin, but the body doesn’t use it appropriately.
Some people develop diabetes during pregnancy, known as gestational diabetes. People who have gestational diabetes during pregnancy have a much greater risk of developing Type 2 diabetes during their lifetime.
While eye care and regular eye exams are important for everyone, they’re particularly vital for people with diabetes. Let’s explore why routine eye care is so crucial.
The eye, a vital part of your vision, contains a sensitive layer called the retina. The blood vessels in the retina can be affected by diabetes, leading to a condition known as diabetic retinopathy. This condition gradually damages these blood vessels and can progress through various stages of severity.
When diabetic retinopathy develops, eye damage can occur before symptoms develop. There often are no symptoms until the retinopathy has reached a moderate or advanced stage. In the advanced stage, diabetic retinopathy can cause rapid, permanent vision loss.
Diabetic retinopathy is the leading cause of vision loss worldwide in people ages 25 to 74. By 2030, an estimated 191 million people globally will have diabetic retinopathy, and 56.3 million people with diabetes will have vision-threatening diabetic retinopathy.
For people with diabetes, regular eye screening is part of their annual exam with their primary healthcare team.
The Food and Drug Administration approved the first autonomous artificial intelligence system to aid in detecting diabetic retinopathy. The system captures an ocular photograph of the eye’s retina to identify early signs of vessel damage. The ocular photograph is quick and designed for your comfort during the process.
If the screening detects diabetic retinopathy, your healthcare team will refer you to retinal specialists or an ophthalmology specialist for further evaluation and management.
Prevention remains the best approach for diabetic retinopathy. Early detection and diligent management by an ophthalmologist can slow the progression or halt diabetic retinopathy. A prompt diagnosis increases the chances of a favorable outcome.
Even if your annual eye exam showed no issues, it’s crucial to report any of these symptoms to your healthcare team right away:
- Blurred vision
- Double vision
- Dark or empty spot in the center of your vision
- Difficulty reading
- Difficulty seeing well at night
- Droopy eyelid
- Eye pain
- Flashing lights
- Halos around lights
- Objects that look larger or smaller than usual
- Sudden appearance of spots or floaters
These symptoms may indicate you need a change in your eyeglass or contact lens prescription or signal other more serious diseases, such as diabetic-related ocular complications such as diabetic retinopathy.
Strict control of your blood glucose levels reduces your risk of developing vision loss from diabetic retinopathy. In addition, you should control high blood pressure and cholesterol, as they can affect the retinal health of your eyes. ― Wayne Wu, M.D., vitreoretinal surgeon and ophthalmologist, Eau Claire, Wisconsin
(Mayo Clinic Q & A is an educational resource and doesn’t replace regular medical care. E-mail a question to MayoClinicQ&A@mayo.edu. For more information, visit www.mayoclinic.org.)
©2023 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. All rights reserved. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
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