Diabetes can cause diabetic eye disease, which can lead to vision loss or blindness. Diabetic eye disease includes:
• Diabetic retinopathy: A condition that affects the tiny blood vessels in the retina. Diabetic retinopathy is the most frequent cause of blindness in the U.S.
• Cataract: A clouding of the lens of the eye that causes the person to see through a haze.
• Glaucoma: A group of diseases that can damage the optic nerve and result in vision loss and blindness.
Diabetic eye disease can cause permanent vision loss or low vision. Low vision means that even with regular glasses, contact lenses, medicine or surgery, people find everyday tasks difficult to do. Reading the mail, shopping, cooking, watching TV and writing can all seem challenging.
A person with diabetes is much more likely to become blind than a person without diabetes. But the risk of blindness may be lessened.
Visit your eye-care professional regularly and take care of your eyes. Have a dilated eye exam at least once per year or more often if your ophthalmologist advises.
Source: National Eye Institute; National Eye Health Education Program
Good Neighbor Pharmacy Health Connection, April 2013
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