Does Diabetes Put Me At Risk for Glaucoma?
Living with diabetes often requires a variety of lifestyle changes and additional health considerations. Beyond monitoring your sugar and changing your diet, you may also find yourself needing to set an appointment with an ophthalmologist to protect your eyesight.
Diabetic Retinopathy as a Pre-Curser to Glaucoma
According to PreventBlindness.org, it is estimated that almost all Type 1 Diabetes patients and over 60% of Type 2 Diabetes patients are expected to develop diabetic retinopathy within the first 20 years of their diagnosis.
Diabetic retinopathy weakens the blood vessels in the retina of the eye. These unhealthy blood vessels may swell and eventually leak fluid into the eye, resulting in blurry vision. In its most advanced stage, the bleeding of these vessels may cause dark spots in vision and could eventually lead to retinal detachment.
It’s important to see an eye doctor annually after you have been diagnosed with diabetes to catch diabetic retinopathy early. If caught early enough, there are treatment options available. If it isn’t caught early enough, the chances of blindness or developing neovascular glaucoma increase.
Types of Glaucoma
While anyone can develop glaucoma, diabetes patients are especially susceptible to this silent vision-killer. Glaucoma.org claims some studies show diabetic patients are twice as likely to develop some form of glaucoma. The two most common types to worry about are neovascular glaucoma and open-angle glaucoma.
Neovascular Glaucoma
Neovascular glaucoma can occur as a result of the overproduction of weak blood vessels in the eye—a common reaction to advanced diabetic retinopathy. These blood vessels block where the eye would normally drain, causing redness, pain, and vision loss.
Open-Angle Glaucoma
Open-angle glaucoma is the most commonly occurring type of glaucoma. This condition is a big risk for Type 2 Diabetes patients and targets the optic nerve. In this condition, the eye is unable to drain fluid through the angle or the space between the cornea and the iris. This causes fluid to build up in the eye, damaging the blood vessels and nerves in the eye, which can eventually lead to vision loss.
Prevention and Treatment
These conditions can be difficult to prevent, especially in diabetic patients. However, if the condition is detected early enough, there is hope that vision can be managed. We strongly encourage patients who have been diagnosed with diabetes to receive a comprehensive eye exam every year so that a trained ophthalmologist can monitor the pressure in their eyes, a key indicator of this condition.
Set an appointment with a trusted Vistar Eye doctor for a comprehensive exam and peace of mind.