Over 30 million Americans have diabetes, with someone being diagnosed every 26 seconds. Diabetes has now become the leading cause of new cases of blindness and vision loss in working-age adults. But the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says that around 90% of vision loss from diabetes can be prevented! November is Diabetic Eye Disease Awareness Month, a time for people with diabetes to remember to have regular eye exams to catch any vision changes before they cause permanent damage.
There are several vision-related conditions that can develop over time due to diabetes. The first is diabetic retinopathy, which occurs when small blood vessels begin to bleed into the retina. More than one in four adults with diabetes are diagnosed with diabetic retinopathy. Similarly, diabetic macular edema occurs when diabetic retinopathy progresses far enough for fluid to leak into the macula. People with diabetes are also two to five times more likely to develop cataracts and are at nearly double the risk of developing open-angle glaucoma.
The best way to protect against vision loss due to diabetes-related eye diseases is to get regular fully dilated eye exams. Both diabetic retinopathy and diabetic macular edema can be detected through these exams even in their early stages when they may not produce symptoms. Those who do have symptoms of a diabetic-related eye disease may experience blurred or distorted vision, flashes of light, small “floaters,” or impaired colors. If you notice any of these symptoms, talk to your eye doctor right away. If caught early, treatment for these conditions can begin even before your vision begins to decline.
“In addition to receiving regular care from your eye doctor, be sure to ask for a referral to a diabetic educator,” says Education & Vision Services Director Amy Wurf of the Council. “They can play an important role in providing additional information, promoting self-management strategies, and guiding you to the right tools to help manage your diabetes. This all plays a part in protecting your vision. If your vision is impacted by diabetic eye disease, the diabetic educator can show you adaptive medical equipment, like talking glucose meters, and ensure you have the right tools that work best for you.”
Beyond regular eye exams, it’s also important to stay proactive in treating your diabetes in general. Proper blood glucose management, along with maintaining good blood pressure and cholesterol levels, will decrease your risk for diabetic eye diseases. Smoking can also increase your risk for diabetic eye disease. If you have diabetes and smoke, talk with your doctor about ways to quit. Getting pregnant after you’ve been diagnosed with diabetes can also increase your risk of diabetes-related eye disease, so be sure to talk with your eye doctor regularly to mitigate your risk.
You can find more information about diabetic eye diseases on the National Eye Institute website at TinyURL.com/Diabetic-Eye-Disease. If you do develop a diabetic-related eye disease, the Council may be able to help with adaptive tools and strategies for daily living. You can contact our vision services team at 608-255-1166 or via our website at WCBlind.org/Vision-Services.