Signs Diabetes Is Affecting Your Eyes
Diabetes has been a menace to society, and has continued to affect a huge population in the country. Unfortunately, diabetes can also affect your eyes in a major way. Surprisingly, eye doctors can tell whether you have diabetes by conducting an eye examination.
Patients with Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes face the risk of getting diabetic eye disease. The most common diabetes-related eye conditions include diabetic macular and macular edema. That said, you should be wary of any of these signs so that you can start diabetic eye treatment early enough.
Blurry Vision
Blurry vision doesn't necessarily mean you need prescription glasses. Sometimes high blood sugar can cause blurry vision. You see, when your blood sugar is higher than normal, your eye lens will swell; thus, interfering with your vision. As such, your eye doctor will have to bring your blood sugar to normal levels in order to correct your vision. So, if your vision starts to become blurry, it's time for a diabetic eye examination.
Difficulty Focusing
Another sign that you might have diabetic eye disease is if you are having a difficult time focusing on a single object. You'll find that your eyes are straining when reading books, small print, or when trying to focus on a computer screen. If this is a problem you haven't dealt with before, you should visit an optometrist and have them check you for diabetic eye disease.
Cataracts
Cataracts are more prevalent among older people. Sadly, diabetes can increase your risk of developing cataracts. The high blood sugar levels in your blood could be the reason behind the lens of your eyes becoming cloudy.
Cataracts develop slowly and might not interfere with your vision early on. With time, cataracts will make it more difficult to read or see. If your vision is getting a bit cloudy, talk to your local optometrist immediately.
Eye Discharge
Healthy eyes shouldn't secrete fluids other than tears. So, if your eyes start to secret unusual, colored fluids, there's a problem. In most cases, the discharge will be accompanied by itchiness and redness. If that's the case, get your eyes checked immediately, as it might be a sign of diabetes eye disease.
Light Sensitivity
One thing about most eye conditions is that they'll cause photophobia. Your eyes will literally become allergic to bright light. So, any exposure to bright light will hurt your eyes or cause some form of irritation. If you have this symptom and any of the above symptoms as well, you should seek immediate help from an optometrist.
For more information about eye conditions, or optical product repairs, contact a company like Southern Colorado Eye Care Associates.