Diabetes and the Eye
Can diabetes be harmful to your vision? OAO's Dr. Bill Ulakovic explains that it diabetes can bring about an adverse impact to your eyesight and vision health.
In the decade between 1995 and 2005, the overall prevalence of diabetes in Ontario increased by 69 per cent, a rate that continues to increase each year.
And within 20 years of onset, the majority of patients with diabetes will develop diabetic retinopathy – the leading cause of blindness among Canadians between the ages of 30 and 69.
It may be easy to dismiss these conditions as affecting only the elderly, but factors such as diet, pregnancy and hereditary predisposition can all be major influences on your vision health.
And while family physicians are vital in working with patients to control diabetes, preventive eye care services, provided by optometrists to those at significant risk of vision loss, preserve sight and help minimize the costs of future health care services.
- Diagnosis and treatment - Good control of diabetes is the best way of preventing ocular complications.Having your eyes checked regularly by an optometrist is the most effective way of detecting any damage to your eyes. This should be at least every year if you are taking insulin, and every 2 years if you are not. However, if you are getting symptoms like blurred vision, especially if this comes on suddenly, then see a doctor without delay
- Treatment of retinal disease - If damage to the retina has already occurred, laser treatment (in which a laser beam is directed at the retina to repair damaged blood vessels) is very effective in preventing vision loss. Laser surgery works best if it isn’t done too early or too late— another reason why it is vital to obtain regular eye examinations.
- Cataract surgery - Cataract surgery performed on diabetics usually has excellent results. However, if there is any significant diabetic retinopathy present the ophthalmologist will often treat the retinopathy first and ensure that this condition is stable prior to proceeding with surgery.
- Additional risk factors - High blood pressure and elevated cholesterol levels need to be controlled as they can increase the damage to the eye in people with diabetes. If you are pregnant, good control of diabetes is vital for both you and your baby.
- Smoking - If you smoke, you should definitely stop. Nicotine constricts blood vessels, which can be harmful to a person with diabetes. In addition, smoking increases the risk of developing macular degeneration. Talk to your doctor about giving up now. There are many methods available to help you, “kick the habit.”
The good news is that with regular eye examinations, good blood glucose control and incorporating a healthy and active lifestyle you can reduce the risk of ocular complications from diabetes.
But most important of all; consult your optometrist! Optometrists are vision specialists that are trained to diagnose and treat a wide variety of oculovisual abnormalities and we’re here to help you with all your eye and vision health needs.
Dr. Bill Ulakovic is OAO President and as a partner in his Thunder Bay practice - Harbourview Optometry Centre - works with many patients who have diabetes and diabetic-related diseases.
