Can Diabetes Affect Your Eyesight? The Crucial Link to Dry Eye Syndrome

For many, diabetes is a manageable condition, but it's essential to be aware of its potential long-term effects on your body, including your eyes. Did you know that diabetes can harm your vision over time, potentially leading to vision loss or even blindness? The good news is that with proper management and routine eye exams, you can prevent these issues and halt their progression.

How Diabetes Impacts Your Eye Health

Diabetes affects your eyes primarily through high blood sugar (glucose) levels. In the short term, this can cause temporary blurred vision as fluid levels change in your eyes' focusing tissues. This is a clear sign that your blood sugar levels are fluctuating. Over time, however, uncontrolled high blood sugar can cause more serious, permanent damage to the blood vessels in your retina, leading to a condition known as diabetic retinopathy.

Dry Eye Syndrome and Diabetes

Patients with diabetes are also at a significantly higher risk for developing Dry Eye Syndrome (DES). This connection is often overlooked, but it's a critical part of diabetic eye health. The most common symptoms of DES include a burning, gritty sensation, blurry vision, and red eyes.

Why does this happen? The causes of diabetic-related DES are multifaceted:

• Nerve Damage (Neuropathy): Diabetes can damage the nerves that control your tear production, leading to inadequate tear quality and quantity.

• Inflammation: High blood sugar levels contribute to chronic inflammation throughout the body, including the delicate tissues of the eye.

• Tear Film Imbalance: Tears are made of three layers (oil, water, and mucus). Diabetes can disrupt this balance, causing tears to evaporate too quickly.

Common Diabetic Eye Diseases and Risk Factors

The risks of diabetic eye disease are real and can affect everyone with diabetes, especially if blood pressure and cholesterol are not managed. The risk is also higher among African Americans, American Indians and Alaska Natives, Hispanics/Latinos, Pacific Islanders, and elderly persons.

The group of eye disorders that can result from diabetes is known as diabetic eye disease and includes:

• Diabetic Retinopathy: Changes in the retina's blood vessels that can lead to vision loss.

• Macular Edema: Swelling in the macula, the part of the retina that gives you sharp, straight-ahead vision.

• Glaucoma: A buildup of pressure in the eye that can damage the optic nerve.

• Cataracts: Clouding of the eye's lens that can happen earlier in people with diabetes.

Take Action: Prevention and Treatment

The key to preventing these complications is a proactive approach to your health.

• Get Regular Eye Exams: Schedule a dilated eye exam at least once a year. Your doctor can spot issues like diabetic retinopathy early, when they are most treatable.

• Manage Your ABCs: Keep your A1C (blood sugar), blood pressure, and cholesterol levels within your target range. This is the single most important step you can take to protect your eyes.

• Don't Smoke: Quitting smoking drastically reduces your risk of eye conditions linked to diabetes.

• Consider Advanced Treatments: If you have chronic dry eyes, especially if you have long-standing diabetes, talk to your doctor about advanced, preservative-free treatments.

Find Lasting Relief with Enrich

People with diabetes must make regular clinical examinations a priority. Early diagnosis and treatment can prevent the progression of both diabetic eye disease and Dry Eye Syndrome. At Enrich, we are dedicated to helping you achieve total wellness through scientifically-proven products and services. Our autologous PRP eye serums are a powerful way to prevent and alleviate dry eye symptoms by using your own body's natural healing properties.

Don't let diabetes compromise your vision.

Contact Enrich today to learn how we can help you find lasting relief and join our community of wellness-minded people.