Diabetic eye disease is one of the leading causes of vision loss. In fact, diabetic retinopathy is the most common cause of blindness in working-age adults in the United States.¹
The encouraging news is that diabetic eye disease can often be treated effectively when it is detected early. Because changes can occur without noticeable symptoms in the beginning stages, regular comprehensive eye exams are essential for protecting your vision if you have diabetes.
What is Diabetic Eye Disease?
Diabetic eye disease refers to a group of serious eye issues that can occur in people with diabetes. Diabetes can damage the blood vessels of the retina (the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye) and lead to partial or complete vision loss. Diabetic retinopathy is the most common type of diabetic eye disease and can cause blindness if it is not detected early and treated properly.
Types of Diabetic Eye Disease
Diabetic Retinopathy
Diabetic retinopathy occurs when high blood sugar damages the small blood vessels in the retina. These damaged blood vessels can swell, leak, or close off entirely, affecting how well the retina functions.
In the early stages, diabetic retinopathy may not cause noticeable symptoms. As it progresses, it can lead to blurred vision, dark spots, fluctuating vision, or, in more advanced cases, vision loss. Regular eye exams are critical for detecting diabetic retinopathy early, before permanent damage occurs.
Diabetic Macular Edema
Diabetic macular edema (DME) occurs when abnormal blood vessels leak fluid into the macula, the central portion of the retina that allows us to see fine details clearly. DME usually causes blurred vision. Loss of central vision from DME can make it difficult to read, drive, or recognize faces. DME is the most common cause of vision loss among people with diabetic retinopathy.
Glaucoma
Glaucoma is a group of conditions that damage the optic nerve, which carries visual information from the eye to the brain. People with diabetes face a higher risk of developing glaucoma and may be about twice as likely to develop the condition compared to people without diabetes.² Some newer research continues to reexamine this relationship and explore how strong the connection is.
Glaucoma often develops when fluid builds up in the eye, increasing internal pressure over time. This pressure can gradually damage the optic nerve and lead to irreversible vision loss if not detected and managed early.
Cataracts
A cataract is a clouding of your eye’s natural lens, which lies behind the iris and pupil (the black part of your eye). Cataracts usually form slowly and painlessly and initially have little effect on your vision. Over time, though, cataracts can cause blurry vision, faded colors, halos around lights, poor night vision, or trouble seeing to read or drive.
People with diabetes are nearly twice as likely to develop cataracts as people without diabetes and tend to develop them at an earlier age.²
Risk Factors for Diabetic Eye Disease
Several factors can increase the likelihood of developing diabetic eye disease. The longer a person has diabetes, the higher their risk becomes, especially if blood sugar levels are not well controlled over time.
Other key risk factors include:
- High blood pressure
- High cholesterol
- Smoking
- Pregnancy (in people with diabetes)
- Kidney disease
- Type 1 or type 2 diabetes diagnosis
Early Symptoms of Diabetic Eye Disease
In its early stages, diabetic eye disease often causes no noticeable symptoms. As the condition progresses, some people may begin to notice subtle changes in their vision.
Early symptoms may include:
- Blurred or fluctuating vision
- Dark spots or floaters
- Difficulty seeing at night
- Changes in color perception
- Vision that seems to come and go
What Happens During a Diabetic Eye Exam
During a diabetic eye exam, our eye doctor performs a comprehensive evaluation of both your vision and the health of your retina. Because diabetic eye disease can develop without early symptoms, these exams focus on detecting subtle changes before they affect your sight.
Your visit typically includes a vision test and a detailed examination of the retina. To get a clearer view of the retina, we may recommend an advanced imaging test such as an Optomap retinal exam, which captures a wide, high-resolution image of the retina in a single scan. This helps identify early signs of diabetic eye disease, including changes to blood vessels, swelling, or other abnormalities.
Depending on your needs, our skilled eye doctors in Murfreesboro may also perform pupil dilation or additional testing to ensure a thorough evaluation of your eye health.
Protect Your Vision with Regular Diabetic Eye Exams
The best way to prevent diabetic eye disease is by controlling your blood sugar levels and getting regular eye exams—even if you don’t have any symptoms or think anything is wrong with your eyesight.
If you have diabetes, be sure to ask your doctor how often you should have an exam—it may be more often than once a year! And if you do experience any changes in your vision, don’t wait—call our office to schedule an appointment! Early detection and treatment of diabetic eye disease can save your sight.
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