5 Common eye complications of diabetes

In diabetes mellitus, blood sugar that is kept high uncontrollably can interfere with the function of other organs, one of which is the eye. Visual disturbances due to diabetes are initially characterized by blurred vision and may be accompanied by pain. If the symptoms of blurred eye due to diabetes are continued, it can cause complications in the eye and even permanent vision loss.

Various eye complications due to diabetes

Visual disturbances are a symptom of diabetes that is quite common for diabetics. If you start experiencing it, you need to immediately see an eye doctor regularly.

The reason is, many diabetics (a term for diabetics) who let this condition eventually develop into complications of diabetes that attack the eye.

Symptoms that appear can be "only" in the form of blurred vision or even blindness. The following are various complications of diabetes in the eye.

1. Glaucoma

Glaucoma is a fairly common complication of diabetes in the eye. The risk of diabetes developing glaucoma is about 40 percent.

Glaucoma is an eye disease caused by too much fluid in the eyeball. This happens because the fluid inside the eye can't drain properly.

The buildup of fluid will interfere with your visual sense system by causing excessive pressure on the blood vessels and nerves of the eye. This is what over time will cause nerve damage.

When the nerves in the eye are damaged, the signals that convey what you see to the brain are disrupted. Initially, the eye disorder due to diabetes will cause blurry eyesight. However, if ignored, it can cause loss of vision or blindness over time.

Some of the other signs of glaucoma are appearance the blind spot or floating black dots in your center and edge vision.

2. Cataracts

Cataract is one of the eye diseases caused by diabetes complications which have early symptoms of blurred vision. Diabetics have a 60% greater risk of developing cataracts than people who do not have high blood sugar.

In the eye with cataracts, the vision seems to be covered in a fog and is often accompanied by symptoms of watery eyes. The National Institute of Diabetes explains that the complications of diabetes that cause cataracts occur due to the buildup of blood sugar (sorbitol) in the lens of the eye.

The healing method that can be done to treat cataracts is to perform surgical removal of the lens that has cataracts.

Later, the lens that has the cataract is replaced with an implanted lens. The procedure for having cataract surgery tends to be safe and only takes one day.

3. Diabetic retinopathy

Diabetic retinopathy is a complication of diabetes that attacks the retina of the eye, which captures light and converts it into signals to be transmitted to the brain.

High blood sugar levels can cause the blood vessels behind the eyes to swell. As a result, the blood vessels in the eye become blocked and block blood flow.

When blood vessels become blocked, new blood vessels will form. But unfortunately, these new blood vessels are more fragile, making them prone to rupture.

When these blood vessels burst, blood can block vision. Then scar tissue forms on the retina. This scar tissue on the retina can then pull the retinal lining apart from its place.

Laser surgery is often used to treat diabetic retinopathy. However, diabetic retinopathy can also be treated in different ways depending on the progress of the disease.

Anti-VEGF injectable drugs can also help treat diabetic retinopathy by slowing down leakage of blood vessels.

4. Diabetic macular edema

Diabetic macular edema is a condition caused by diabetic retinopathy. According to the American Diabetes Association, this complication of diabetes in the eye is caused by a buildup of fluid in the macula.

The macula is one part of the retina, its position is located behind the eye. Almost all the main visual functions are concentrated in the macula because light-receiving cells (photoreceptors) are collected here.

When diabetic retinopathy occurs, the capillaries cannot function properly to regulate the circulation of fluid in and out of the blood vessels. As a result, fluid comes out of the blood vessels. Over time, this fluid buildup will interfere with the function of the macula.

The symptoms of diabetic macular edema can vary from person to person, depending on how badly damaged the blood vessels in the eye are.

However, the main symptoms of diabetes eye disease are blurred, wavy, and double vision. Sometimes it can also be accompanied by pain. In addition, people with diabetes may also notice floater or a hovering shadow.

Laser photocoagulation is the most common treatment for macular edema. If done properly, laser photocoagulation can maintain the patient's visual acuity thereby reducing the risk of permanent blindness.

Even so, this procedure can rarely improve vision that is already severe.

5. Retinal detachment

Retinal detachment is a condition when the retina is detached from its supporting tissue. When the retina detaches, it is lifted or pulled from its normal position.

This condition can start with diabetic retinopathy. The build-up of fluid due to retinopathy can cause the retina to start pulling away from the base of the small blood vessels.

Eye disease due to diabetes is painless at first, but shows symptoms of blurred vision, shadows (in one or both eyes), and enlarged eye bags.

However, bothersome symptoms usually appear when the retina is damaged. If not treated promptly, retinal detachment can lead to permanent vision loss.

Photocoagulation or cryopexy surgery is a treatment that can be done to treat complications of diabetes in this eye.

However, not all operations are successful in restoring normal vision. There is still a risk of experiencing vision loss or even permanent vision loss.

If you experience visual disturbances due to diabetes characterized by blurred vision, immediately consult an eye doctor and adopt a healthy lifestyle that aims to keep blood sugar levels normal.

The earlier you prevent it, the greater your chances of avoiding diabetes complications.