- poor control of blood sugar levels over time
- high blood pressure
- kidney disease
- high cholesterol levels
- pregnancy
Diabetic Eye Disease: 4 Stages To Protect Your Eyes
Symptoms
Many people have diabetic retinopathy for a long time without symptoms. By the time symptoms appear, there may be significant damage.
Symptoms may include:
- blurred or distorted vision
- difficulty reading
- spots or “floaters” in your vision
- a shadow across the field of vision
- eye pressure
- difficulty with color perception
People with any of these symptoms should get checked as soon as possible.
Treatments
Treatments for diabetic retinopathy include intravitreal (inside the eye) injections, laser treatments and surgery.
People at risk for diabetic retinopathy can protect their vision by:
- controlling blood sugar, blood pressure and cholesterol
- maintaining a healthy weight
- taking all prescribed diabetes medications
- getting regular dilated retina exams
- quitting smoking
- staying active
“From focusing on healthy lifestyle habits to making regular dilated retina exams a priority, there are many ways people with diabetes can maintain excellent vision for life,” Ferrone concludes.