Keep an Eye on You - Tips for Maintaining Healthy Vision
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Diabetes can lead such vision problems as cataracts, glaucoma and retinopathy. The good news is that these conditions are often preventable. Awareness of symptoms, which include blurred and spotty vision, and regular eye exams comprise the smart eye care regimen that will help you see clearly.
Steps to Maintaining Healthy Vision
1. Know Your Glucose Levels
Vigilantly monitoring your glucose levels can prevent eye problems from developing. This is especially important for those with Type II diabetes since sharp spikes and drops in glucose cause increased pressure on the back of the eye, leading to blurred vision and retinal damage. Its best to follow the guidelines established by your doctor and check your glucose levels frequently to ensure that you are following those guidelines. Also consider using a real time Continuous Glucose Monitoring system, which measures your glucose levels on a continuous basis.
2. Look for Symptoms
Self-awareness could save your eyesight. Be alert for the following symptoms:
- Blurred or double vision
- Rings or spots in your vision field
- Spots in your vision field
- Any other vision changes
If you detect these symptoms or any other changes in your eyesight, contact your eye doctor immediately. If you do not have an eye care specialist, it is imperative that you locate one.
3. Schedule Regular Eye Exams
The frequency of your eye exams depends on your age, condition and how long you have had diabetes. Plan for annual dilated eye exams to make sure that your retina are healthy. The ADA recommends this thorough yearly exam if you are between 10 and 29 years old and have had diabetes for at least five years or if you are 30 or older, regardless of how long you have had diabetes. If you currently have or develop an eye disease, you may need to visit your doctor more frequently.
Make sure your eye care professional checks for signs of cataracts, glaucoma and retinopathy. Talk to your doctor about the symptoms of diabetes-related vision complications so you know what to look for. See your eye doctor immediately if you experience any changes in your vision or if you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant.
If you wear glasses or contacts, make sure your prescription check-ups include discussions about potential diabetes-related complications.
Stay informed about research breakthroughs and new treatments for diabetes-related complications, and discuss them with your doctor during your exam. Even if your eyes are healthy, it's always wise to know what's happening in this area.
4. Butt out!
If you smoke, you need to stop. While smoking is dangerous for any one, it is especially detrimental to people with diabetes. Smoking increases both blood pressure and blood sugar levels. It also puts people at greater risk for cardiovascular disease, nerve damage and kidney disease.
Remember, self-awareness and visits to your eye doctor can help prevent diabetes-related vision complications. For more information about living with diabetes, visit our resource page.
Additional Resources
http://diabetes.org/type-1-diabetes/eye-care.jsp
http://diabetes.niddk.nih.gov/dm/pubs/complications_eyes/index.htm