Diabetes Complication: Glaucoma and Other Eye Disorder

If you were diagnosed with diabetes, you better visit your ophthalmologist for eye examination to prevent eye problems such as glaucoma. Diabetes is the primary basis of loss of sight especially in old people ages 20 to 74.

High blood glucose raises the risk of diabetes eye problems. High blood sugar levels in diabetic person cause the lens of the eyes to swell, which changes your capability to see.

Glaucoma happens when the optic nerve of the eye, which is its electric wire that transports messages to the brain what the eyes have seen, is pressed by extra fluid which damages the eyesight.

The pair of diabetes and glaucoma caused intrigues for years since diabetic patients have doubled the chance of developing glaucoma and at the same time, people with glaucoma to have diabetes is also higher than those without the eye disease.

Neovascular glaucoma, a very uncommon type is often related to some abnormalities in which patients with diabetes are the most common targets for this type of glaucoma. In cases of diabetes retinopathy, the retina blood vessels are ruined, causing the retina to produce new, but not normal blood vessels. If these abnormal blood vessels group in the iris (iris is the part of the eye that is colored), it blocks the flow of fluid in the eye and causes rise of eye pressure. Neovascular glaucoma is hard to cure, one of the options of which is laser surgery to aid lessen the abnormal blood vessels on the retinal surface and iris. Some later studies also proved drainage implants usage as another option to treat neovascular glaucoma.

Diabetic patients most likely shall have glaucoma and cataracts earlier than those who have no diabetes. These eye diseases like glaucoma show no signs and symptoms at early stages. Then the signs, when they appear include watering of the eyes, eye ache or pain, headache, unclear vision and halos around lights. The seriousness of these diabetic-related vision problems is determined by the diet, physical activity and diabetes control of the patient.

To remedy glaucoma or other eye problems, manage the blood glucose to 90 – 130 mg/dL before meals and less than 180 mg/dL an hour or two after a meal.