November is Diabetes Awareness Month
The following is courtesy of the CO Optometric Association and 2020 Eyes Colorado
Common Eye Diseases for Diabetic Patients
- Diabetic Retinopathy is when there is damage to the blood vessels in the back of the eye. This damage can cause blur or distortion in your vision, increase in floaters and permanent vision loss if severe.
- Diabetic Macular Edema is swelling in the macula, which is the part of the retina responsible for your central vision.
- Glaucoma is caused by increased pressure in the eye, which can damage the optic nerve and can cause peripheral vision loss before noticeable symptoms occur.
- Cataracts are changes in color or clarity of the lens inside your eye that can cause blurry, cloudy or decreased vision.
Call your optometrist immediately if you have diabetes and experience any of these symptoms:
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Blurry vision
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Black spots
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More floaters than usual
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Feeling like a curtain is pulled over your visual field
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Flashes of light
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Any loss of sight in one or both eyes
1 https://www.webmd.com/diabetes/diabetes-eye-problems
2 https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/diabetes/overview/preventing-problems/diabetic-eye-disease
