Can Uncontrolled Blood Sugar Hurt Your Eyes?
As a diabetic, you must be vigilant about your eye health. Uncontrolled blood sugar levels can contribute to the development of several eye disorders, including diabetic retinopathy. Many of the conditions are treatable, but some are irreversible. If you have diabetes, here is what you need to know about the condition and your eye health.
How Does Diabetes Impact Your Eye Health?
Your retinas are responsible for recording images that are reflected to it from the other areas of your eyes. Once the images are recorded, the retinas convert those images to signals that your brain receives. The brain then decides how to respond to what it has received.
The retinas receive nourishment from tiny blood vessels that are located inside of them. When you have uncontrolled blood sugar, the vessels are unable to provide the nourishment needed to the retinas, which can lead to eye problems. The problems could range from an infection to total blindness.
Do You Have an Eye Problem?
Ideally, you should receive eye examination on an annual basis from your optometrist. However, the signs of an eye problem can develop between visits. It is imperative that you see an optometrist at the first sign of a problem. The sooner he or she evaluates and treats your condition, the lesser the impact the problem will have on your eyes.
Unfortunately, some people do not experience symptoms until the condition has significantly progressed. Since early detection is key to receiving treatment, you should take notice of symptoms, such as blurry vision, floating spots, and pain or extreme pressure behind the eyes. You should also be concerned about an increased sensitivity to light.
What Treatments Are Available?
The treatment your eye doctor recommends depends on the eye problem you have developed. For instance, if you have diabetic retinopathy, laser treatment is a possibility in most cases. The treatment can help with improving your vision. Follow-up care is important to maintaining the benefits from the laser treatment.
Another possible treatment is surgery to remove cataracts if they form. Cataracts is not a condition that is exclusive to diabetics, but having the disease increases your chances of developing it. Following the surgery, you could be required to use eye drops to maintain your progress and recover properly.
The most important thing to do is to get treatment if you have an eye problem and suffer from diabetes. Waiting until your vision worsens could lead to permanent effects that cannot be undone. Talk to a doctor, like those at Northwest Ophthalmology, for more help.