Have you ever wondered why people with diabetes are encouraged to undergo annual checkups for their eye health? How does the increase in blood sugar level affect their eye health?
It turns out having a high sugar level in your blood may damage the blood vessels in retina, which is a light-sensitive layer of tissues at the back of your eye, and will lead to a condition called diabetic retinopathy. Diabetic retinopathy is a serious condition that should not be neglected as it is the most common cause of vision loss and even blindness in people with diabetes.
People with early stages of diabetic retinopathy usually do not have any symptoms, but as the disease progresses people will notice some changes in their vision such as:
- Difficulty in reading
- Blurred vision
- Increase number of floaters
- Dark or empty spots in the field of vision
- Poor night vision
These changes usually affect both eyes.
Anyone who has diabetes can develop diabetic retinopathy, but some people have higher risk of getting it such as:
- Poor control of blood sugar
- Duration of diabetes- having diabetes for a long time will increase the risk of eye damage
- Having high blood pressure and high cholesterol
- Women with diabetes who become pregnant
Managing blood sugar is the best way to prevent diabetic retinopathy. This includes adapting a healthy lifestyle such as regular physical activity and eating healthy. It is also important to maintain a healthy cholesterol level and blood pressure reading. Take good care of your eye health by taking some nutrients that benefits the eye such as Omega-3 fatty acids, Lutein, Zeaxanthin, Vitamin C and Vitamin E. Having regular eye exam is also crucial to eye health as early detection and early treatment can delay the damages and prevent blindness.