Diabetes Can Affect Your Eyes Before It Affects Your Sight
An Indian national survey found that 16.9% of people aged 50 or older with diabetes had diabetic retinopathy — roughly one in six people in the group studied. Importantly, this figure represents the proportion of people who had diabetic retinopathy, not a percentage of vision loss.
The figure matters because early diabetic retinopathy often causes no pain or noticeable change in vision. A person may continue reading, working or even driving normally while changes are developing in the retina.
High blood sugar can damage the tiny blood vessels in the retina — the light-sensitive layer at the back of the eye. If diabetic retinopathy is detected early, an eye doctor can monitor the condition and determine when treatment or further care is needed.
Dr. Anchal Gupta’s Message
“Diabetes can affect your eyes before it affects your sight. Clear vision does not always mean that the retina is healthy. Regular retinal examination is an important part of diabetes care, even when there are no noticeable changes in vision.”
If you have diabetes, make a dilated retinal examination part of your routine care, even when your vision seems clear. The National Eye Institute advises that most people with diabetes should have a dilated eye examination at least once a year, or as advised by their eye doctor.
Do not wait for blurred vision to get your eyes checked.
— Dr. Anchal Gupta
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