Diabetes And Vision: How High Blood Sugar Affects Eyesight
If you have diabetes, then you know how difficult it can be to keep up with all the variables involved. Everything you do, from general health to eating to exercising, all serve to help keep your blood sugar in check. Failure to do so can harm organs like your heart and kidneys, as well as nerves.
High blood sugar also has an effect on your eyesight. When it comes to diabetes and vision, you want to understand how diabetes affects your vision and be aware of your risk of diabetic eye diseases such as diabetic retinopathy and glaucoma. You also want to make sure that youre visiting your ophthalmologist for annual comprehensive eye exams.
To understand how high blood sugar affects eyesight, we need to look at:
- Diabetes and vision
- Diabetic eye disease
- Diagnosis and treatment
General health requires a lot more attention and effort if you have diabetes. Being aware of the danger that diabetes poses to your eyesight can motivate you to be more proactive in your overall health.
How Do Doctors Diagnose Eye Problems From Diabetes
Having a full, dilated eye exam is the best way to check for eye problems from diabetes. Your doctor will place drops in your eyes to widen your pupils. This allows the doctor to examine a larger area at the back of each eye, using a special magnifying lens. Your vision will be blurry for a few hours after a dilated exam.
Your doctor will also
How Does Diabetes Affect Your Eyes
Diabetes can lead to blurry vision in several ways.
In some cases, its a minor problem that you can resolve by stabilizing your blood sugar or taking eye drops. Other times, its a sign of something more serious thats worth discussing with your doctor.
In fact, blurred sight is often one of the first warning signs of diabetes.
Also Check: What Happens When Blood Sugar Is Too Low
Why Does Diabetes Cause Blurred Vision
High blood sugar levels can cause the lens inside the eye to swell and change shape. This can make it hard for 1 or both of your eyes to focus, which makes your vision blurry for a short period of time. It can take about 6 weeks for the swelling to go away and your vision to return to normal once your blood sugar levels are closer to normal.1,2
Very low blood sugar levels can also cause blurred vision in 1 or both eyes. This is due to the way very low blood sugar levels affect the brain. Once your blood sugar levels have returned to normal, your vision should also return to normal.1,2
If your blood sugar levels often go up and down, you might notice that your vision gets better and then worse for different periods of time.1,2
Take Control Of Your Type 2 Diabetes And Protect Your Vision
Be Proactive Being proactive about your vision care, especially if you have, or are at high risk of getting diabetes, should go beyond an annual visit to your optometrist. Diabetes, like many other physical challenges, in at least 33% of cases, is a consequence of obesity. A study performed by the Harvard School of Public Health concluded that being overweight and obese was the single most important factor in determining who would develop Type 2 Diabetes.
Maintain A Healthy Body Weight Health and fitness professionals advocate a strict program of diet and exercise to both prevent the onset of obesity driven diabetes, and to treat it quickly and effectively if in fact it has already manifested itself. If you first care for your body in a natural preventative or restorative fashion, you protect your eyes, and you can do it naturally.
Control Your Blood Sugar The most important step in controlling diabetes and protecting your vision is to maintain healthy blood sugar levels at all times. Since each individual responds differently to glucose fluctuations, even a small shift in glucose can register in the eyes.
As a diabetic, if someone told you doing a particular action would result in blindness, you would go out of your way to make sure you never committed that action again. Controlling your blood sugar is one of the easiest ways to prevent blindness, yet many diabetics ignore the advice.
- Was this Helpful ?
Also Check: Is 68 Low Blood Sugar
High Blood Sugar Can Cause Blurry Vision
After light enters the front of the eye, known as the cornea, it passes through to the lens. Both the cornea and lens work together to focus the rays of light onto the retina, which is a thin tissue located at the back of the eye. Retina cells then absorb that light and convert it into electrochemical impulses. They are then sent along the optic nerve and to the brain, where they are translated into the image you see.
Sudden high blood sugar following a meal can lead to blurry vision because the rapid increase in blood glucose causes an integral part of the eye, the lens, to swell. The swelling is caused by fluid moving in and out of the eye, and leads to changes in the shape of the lens and therefore changes in eyesight. When blood sugar levels return to normal, the lens returns to its original shape, and regular vision is restored. However, the effects can last for a couple of days.
High blood sugar following a meal is known as postprandial hyperglycemia. It has been shown that high carbohydrate intake is associated with the sudden increase in blood sugar levels following a meal.
Fluctuating Blood Sugar Levels
Blood sugar levels that fluctuate throughout the day or from time to time, can cause occasional blurry vision.
It is highly recommended to speak with your doctor about ways to regulate your blood sugar levels, as a constant fluctuation can cause many uncomfortable symptoms and can be harmful to your body.;
You May Like: What Damage Does High Blood Sugar Cause
Diagnosis Of Blurred Vision
Your doctor will initially take an inventory of your symptoms and will attempt to find out if anything makes your vision better or worse. They will also need to know your family history as related to eye health and conditions.
A physical examination of the eyes will also be done. This will include an eye chart, performing a refraction test, ophthalmoscopy, or slit lamp examination. Blood tests can also be done to determine if there is a bacterial infection in the blood causing an eye infection.
Treating Your Blurry Vision
Paying attention to what causes your blurry vision after eating can help prevent it from occurring. You may want to lower your carbohydrate intake and choose foods that cause a gradual increase in blood sugar levels.
If the rise in blood sugar is not associated with any serious symptoms such as shortness of breath, nausea, vomiting, or dry mouth, you could try exercising as a way to lower your blood sugar. The level of exercise does not have to be strenuous. Research has shown that just a 15-minute walk after every meal can help manage blood sugar levels for a 24-hour period.
Don’t Miss: Can You Have Low Blood Sugar Without Having Diabetes
How Excessive Sugar Intake Affects Eye Health
Sugar is a pro-inflammatory ingredient that, in some patients, causes high glycemia, or high blood sugar. Inflammation and high blood sugar can affect your entire body, including your eyes. When you have high blood sugar, your eye lenses will swell, which in turn brings about problems such as blurry vision.Studies have proven this effect, and those with chronic high blood sugar problems are more at risk for eye disease.
One of the most common sugar-related diseases is diabetes, in which your body either doesnt create insulin or doesnt produce enough of it for your needs. Insulin is used to remove excess sugar from your blood, so if you dont have enough insulin, youre at risk for high blood sugar and high blood pressure problems. Both of these problems can hurt your eye health and put you at risk for eye disease. For those who have diabetes, poorly managed sugar intake can result in diabetic retinopathy, an eye condition in which the blood vessels in your eyes become damaged , resulting in blurriness, visual impairment and, in extreme cases, blindness.
Blurring After Exercise Or A Hot Bath
Sometimes blurred vision can occur after exercising or after a hot bath, because of a condition known as optic neuritis.
Other symptoms of this condition include:
- dim vision
- dulled or fading perception of color
- pain behind the eye when moving the eyes
Anyone who experiences these symptoms should see a doctor.
Other possible reasons include low blood sugar, low blood pressure, running in the wind or cold, or the effect of sun or sunscreen.
Optic neuritis is a rare condition that may, in some cases, have links with type 1 diabetes, according to research published in 2018. The investigators were reporting on a small case study.
Read Also: How To Stop Sugar Cravings And Lose Weight
Keep Your Optometrist Involved
Keeping your optometrist;involved is an important step to preventing diabetic eye disease. If youve been diagnosed with diabetes or if there are changes in your condition, let them know. Keep them informed of your medications and your doctors recommended treatment plan.
Oftentimes with diabetic retinopathy the retina can be badly damaged before any changes in vision are noticed. That is why it is so important to get your eyes checked on a regular basis as recommended by an eye care professional. In many cases, catching and treating diabetic eye diseases early can prevent vision loss and blindness.
Even if you attend your regular checkups, see your eye doctor;immediately if you experience:
- Black spots in your vision
- Flashes of light
- Any sudden change in vision
If Youve Got High Blood Sugar You Need To Know About Blurry Vision
Blood sugar levels can be a difficult matter to manage for many people. In some cases, diabetes is a genetic problem affecting the metabolic system. In others, the onset of diabetes stems from diet, and how insulin is used by the body to regulate the amount of glucose, or sugar, that is in the blood. We need sugar to fuel our cells, but too much, in particular, can instigate a number of health concerns.
Because sugar is used in every cell of the body, there really is no part of the body that isnt at risk when the function of insulin and sugar is disrupted. Diabetes can become a chronic condition that ultimately causes secondary health problems, including certain eye diseases that may lead to blurry vision and, eventually, vision loss.
We encourage our patients to take special note of changes to their eyesight. Blurring may be an early warning sign for . . .
Blurred vision is a good reason to see your eye doctor, even in between annual eye exams. The Eye Associates has locations in Caldwell and Meridian, where we provide friendly, professional service. Contact us for your visit.
Recent Posts
You May Like: What Fruit Contains The Most Sugar
The Keto Diet And Blurry Vision
A popular eating plan for weight loss, this extremely low-carb, high-fat diet plan alters the balance of macronutrients to force the body into a metabolic state called ketosis, in which it uses fat for fuel, Palinski-Wade says.
Dialing back on carbohydrates can have a major impact on the amount of sugar in your blood. “A keto diet provides very few carbohydrates, the macronutrient easiest to convert into glucose in the body,” Palinski-Wade notes. “When you eat few carbs, your blood sugar can lower as well.”
Read more:Is Keto the Right Diet for You? Here’s What You Should Know
Still, Palinski-Wade says blurry vision on the keto diet is unlikely for most people. However, you’ll need to be more careful if you have diabetes. Research published in May 2018 in the journal Diabetic Medicine showed that although the keto diet often improves blood sugar control in people with type 1 diabetes, it can result in a high number of hypoglycemic episodes.
According to Mayo Clinic, blurred vision can be a sign of worsening hypoglycemia, which is a fasting blood sugar of 70 milligrams per deciliter or below.
How Does Diabetes Affect My Eyes
Diabetes affects your eyes when your blood glucose, also called blood sugar, is too high.
In the short term, you are not likely to have vision loss from high blood glucose. People sometimes have blurry vision for a few days or weeks when theyre changing their diabetes care plan or medicines. High glucose can change fluid levels or cause swelling in the tissues of your eyes that help you to focus, causing blurred vision. This type of blurry vision is temporary and goes away when your glucose level gets closer to normal.
If your blood glucose stays high over time, it can damage the tiny blood vessels in the back of your eyes. This damage can begin during prediabetes, when blood glucose is higher than normal, but not high enough for you to be diagnosed with diabetes. Damaged blood vessels may leak fluid and cause swelling. New, weak blood vessels may also begin to grow. These blood vessels can bleed into the middle part of the eye, lead to scarring, or cause dangerously high pressure inside your eye.
Most serious diabetic eye diseases begin with blood vessel problems. The four eye diseases that can threaten your sight are
Also Check: Is There Sugar In Smirnoff Ice
Natural Treatment For Blurred Vision
Eye conditions are the most common cause of blurred vision, but in some cases, the underlying cause can be related to your cardiovascular system. Low blood sugar, high blood pressure, and stroke can also affect your vision.
There are several natural ingredients you can try that will reduce the risk of these factors that can affect your heart and vision.
Low blood glucose: Blood glucose levels affect energy and heart health. Hypoglycemia can trigger heart palpitations, which can stress heart tissues and muscles. Naturally manage blood glucose levels with red yeast rice to prevent vision defects and damage to your heart.High blood pressure: Hypertension is one of the leading causes of a heart attack, stroke, and heart disease. Dietary and lifestyle changes can help blood pressure levels, and so can natural supplements. Studies have shown that red yeast rice and berberine bark extract naturally lower blood pressure. In addition to this, taking capsicum extract promotes blood vessel dilation and enhances circulation. Stroke: The risk of stroke increases with high cholesterol. Niacin, chromium, and pine bark extract are all proven to naturally lower cholesterol levels. In doing so, they reduce the risk of a stroke.
The Link Between Sugar And Your Eye Health
Did you know that your nutrition choices can affect your eye health? This is especially true for sugar intake, a subtle staple of the American diet. At Piedmont Eye Center, we care about your eye health, which means we also care about the foods you eat that can affect it, particularly sugar. So, we have gathered some information for you on how sugar can affect your eye health.
Also Check: How Do Carbs Convert To Sugar
Reduce Your Risk Of Diabetic Retinopathy
You can reduce your risk of developing diabetic retinopathy, or help prevent it getting worse, by:
- controlling your blood sugar, blood pressure and cholesterol levels
- taking your diabetes medication as prescribed
- attending all your screening appointments
- getting medical;advice quickly if you notice any changes to your vision
Read more about how to prevent diabetic retinopathy.
What Eye Conditions Are Associated With The Long
Diabetes comes with a varied smorgasbord of eye diseases that can develop because of the disease. Some of the eye conditions caused by the condition over a long time due to high blood sugars include:
Recognizing blurred vision
Pay attention to your vision. When do your eyes feel strained? Do certain activities such as night driving or staring at the computer cause you problems with your vision?
If you notice a pattern where your vision gets blurrier for a while, and then it gets better, you may have an issue. Any changes in your vision that concern you should be addressed.
When should I contact my doctor?
Eye pain and blurred vision that comes on quickly indicates that its imperative that you see an eye doctor for evaluation right away.
If youve been plagued with blurry vision off and on over a period, it may be that a medical condition, a medication or some other factor is causing your vision to be off. Your primary care provider can do other tests to determine if you have an underlying condition causing your vision problems. 2
When should I contact my doctor if I have blurry vision and diabetes?
If you have diabetes, you are already at risk for many different problems with your eyes. You should have regular vision check-ups, with dilated eye examination where the vision care professional looks on the back of your eye at the complex weave of vessels that are to nourish your eyes with rich blood and keep your vision sharp.
Recommended Reading: What Foods Increase Blood Sugar Levels
How Do Blood Sugar Levels Affect Eyesight
High blood sugar levels have a significant effect on eyesight, causing various conditions like blurry vision, cataracts, glaucoma, and retinopathy. What are these conditions and how to they result from high blood sugar levels? Were going to talk about each one, their cause, and any treatment methods available.
When To See Your Doctor
If youre experiencing sudden blurred vision together with eye pain, you should go see your doctor and have your eye checked
If your vision has become blurred over time, it could be a sign of an underlying condition, which could be diabetes amongst other possible causes.
Your doctor should be able to help distinguish why your vision may have worsened.
Read Also: What To Take For Sugar Cravings