Don't Let Diabetes Steal Your Sight: A Guide to Preventing Diabetic Retinopathy

Diabetes is well-known for causing high blood glucose levels, but chronically high blood sugar doesn’t just impact the health of your blood vessels. It can affect your vision too.

Diabetic retinopathy occurs when high blood sugar levels weaken or damage tiny blood vessels in the retina. When damaged, these blood vessels can leak fluid or blood, impacting your vision. 

Of the nearly 10 million Americans who have diabetic retinopathy, about 20% have vision-threatening diabetic retinopathy. That means new, abnormal blood vessels grow and increase the risk of scarring and retinal detachment.

It’s a serious condition, and prevention is your best bet to save your vision. That’s why our experts at Maryland Eye Care Center recommend routine diabetic eye exams at our locations in Silver Spring and Hyattsville, Maryland. 

We can provide custom guidance to help you protect yourself against vision-stealing conditions like diabetic retinopathy.

First, know your risk factors

Anyone with diabetes can develop diabetic retinopathy. That includes all types of diabetes, including Type 1 diabetes, Type 2 diabetes, and even gestational diabetes.

Your risk increases if you have:

• Poor blood sugar control
• High blood pressure or high cholesterol
• Been living with diabetes for many years

Pregnant mothers with preexisting diabetes (particularly Type 1 diabetes) have a higher risk of developing diabetic retinopathy.

5 ways to protect your vision

If you have diabetes (or prediabetes), reduce your risk of complications with these tips:

1. Keep blood sugar levels in check

Chronically high blood sugar levels can damage the lining of your blood vessels. The best way to prevent damage to your eyes is to keep your blood sugar levels in check. 

That helps reduce your risk of eye damage and prevent other complications, such as kidney damage, peripheral neuropathy, and peripheral artery disease.

2. Monitor blood pressure and cholesterol

High blood pressure and cholesterol can worsen blood vessel damage in the eyes. Follow your primary care doctor’s guidance on medication, diet, and lifestyle changes to keep both in a healthy range.

3. Schedule annual dilated eye exams

A comprehensive dilated eye exam allows your Mayland Eye Care Center provider to check for tiny changes in your retina even before you notice symptoms. 

If you already have diabetic retinopathy, you may require more frequent visits to monitor the progression of the condition.

4. Quit smoking

Smoking reduces oxygen flow to your eyes and speeds up the progression of diabetic complications.

If you’ve recently quit, congratulations!

If not, talk to our team about quitting. Quitting can significantly lower your risk and improve the vascular health throughout your entire body, not just your eyes.

5. Stay consistent with diabetes care

Managing your diet, staying active, taking medications as prescribed, and attending regular checkups all help protect your eyes in the long run.

Spotting the signs of diabetic retinopathy 

Even with the best prevention strategies in place, it’s still good to know the red flags of diabetic retinopathy. Common symptoms may include:

• Blurred or fluctuating vision
• Dark or empty areas in your sight
• Difficulty seeing at night
• Spots (floaters) in your vision

However, in its early stages, diabetic retinopathy often causes no symptoms, which makes regular eye exams even more crucial.

Treating diabetic retinopathy

It can be nerve-racking to learn that you have diabetic retinopathy. The sooner you get treatment, however, the more likely you are to save your vision.

Our team may recommend diabetic retinopathy treatment such as laser therapy to seal leaking blood vessels, anti-VEGF injections, or vitrectomy surgery.

If you’re concerned about your eye health or need to schedule a diabetic eye exam, request an appointment by phone or online today.