If you have Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes, you know that you have to keep track of your blood sugar levels. Among the risks you live with if you have diabetes include increased risks of heart disease, limb damage, and problems with your eyesight.
Glaucoma, the second-most common cause of blindness worldwide, has been linked to diabetes. If you have diabetes, it’s important to manage your condition to preserve your eyesight. If your eyesight has been negatively impacted by glaucoma, we can still slow the deterioration of your vision.
At Smart Eye Care of Brooklyn, New York City our expert care team has the knowledge you can trust when it comes to preserving your eyesight, even after you receive your diabetes diagnosis. Here’s what you need to know about the link between diabetes and glaucoma, and what you can do to avoid partial or total blindness.
Diabetes damages your body’s ability to maintain normal blood sugar levels. You need some level of blood sugars to power your body, but if your blood sugar gets too high, it can put stresses on your major organs and other essential vitals. Diabetes can pose real risks for your eyes.
High blood sugar levels can damage the back of your eyes, the area called your retina. Untreated diabetic retinopathy can lead to blindness after a few years. You could see damage to the blood vessels in your eyes as a result.
A diagnosis of diabetes also doubles your risk for developing glaucoma. If you have glaucoma, your retina and optic nerve are threatened by building pressure around your eye. Left untreated, glaucoma can seriously impair your vision, or leave you partially or totally blind.
To limit the impacts of diabetes on your vision, get the care you need, ideally sooner rather than later. If we can diagnose your diabetes-related vision problems, or catch early signs with preventative screenings, your chances for improved outcomes go up significantly.
For patients at increased risk of developing glaucoma, including those with diabetes, a family history of glaucoma, or other factors, including your race or ethnicity, we recommend regular screening. A previous injury to one of your eyes, or myopia, can also increase your risks of developing glaucoma, and you may need preventative screenings as a result.
Once you develop glaucoma, we can still slow the progression of your condition, and work to preserve your vision. However, catching any eye-related problems early remains your best bet for keeping your eyes working optimally despite your diabetes.
If you have diabetes, and are concerned about possible risks to your vision, contact Smart Eye Care today. You can schedule your initial consultation appointment by calling our Brooklyn, New York office over the phone, or request your appointment online now.
