How Diabetes Can Affect Your Eyes
If you have diabetes, your eyesight is one of the main factors at risk. Diabetes-related eye problems are the leading cause of blindness in American adults according to the National Eye Institute. Blurry or hazy vision could be the first sign of diabetes, and diabetes-related issues are often at the root of many serious eye conditions. Always talk to your doctor if you experience any sudden changes in your vision.

How Diabetes Affects Your Eyes
- High/Low Blood Sugar: Irregular blood sugar levels will cause swelling of the eye lens leading to temporary blurred vision. Once the glucose levels are back in the normal range, the blurred vision will go away. However, too much glucose in the bloodstream will damage blood vessels and nerves leading to more serious and permanent eye conditions.
- High Blood Pressure: People are twice as likely to experience high blood pressure if they have diabetes. The heart has to pump harder than usual because the arteries have an increased resistance against the blood flow. Since diabetes damages your small blood vessels, the walls of the blood vessels stiffen causing increased pressure. High blood pressure levels can eventually lead to heart disease, stroke and serious vision diseases if it is not controlled.
Diabetic Eye Diseases
Pay attention to your blood sugar and blood pressure levels as well as any vision changes before they possibly worsen. As always, contact your eye doctor if any issues or questions arise.