Curious about Cataracts?

Cataracts are a clouding of the lens of the eye. While they are common in the aging population, it’s important to know that they can occur at a much earlier age when you have diabetes.

What Causes Cataracts

As you age, the lenses of your eyes become less flexible, less transparent and thicker. When you have diabetes, high blood sugar (blood glucose) levels over time can lead to structural changes in the lens of the eye that can accelerate the development of cataracts.

If you have diabetes, you might be at greater risk for developing cataracts depending on how long you’ve had it, the frequency of glucose levels above your target range and the presence of macular edema—fluid build-up in the macula (located in the center of the retina). You may not notice cataracts, since symptoms can be minor until clouding affects the center of the eye, at which point the cataract can progress rapidly.
Other causes of cataracts:

• Family history
• Eye injury
• Eye surgery
• Repeated eye injections
• Spending a lot of time in the sun without UV sunglasses
• Using certain medications, such as corticosteroids

Know the Symptoms

• Cloudy or blurry vision
• Seeing double in one eye
• Seeing halos around lights
• Being extra sensitive to light and glare
• Having trouble seeing well at night
• Bright colors seem faded

How to Prevent Cataracts

• Eat a diet rich in fruits and vegetables
• Do not smoke—and if you currently do, quit! You can get help by calling 1-800-QUIT-NOW (1-800-784-8669)
• Wear sunglasses with UV protection

Manage your glucose to stay within your target range (usually 80-180 mg/dL)

Know What to Do if You Get Them

If you start developing a cataract, you may be able to see better if you:

• Use brighter lighting
• Wear anti-glare prescription glasses and sunglasses
• Use magnifying lenses when needed
• Talk to your eye doctor about updating your eyeglass prescription

Cataract Surgery: The Ultimate Treatment

The purpose of your lens is to bend light rays that come into the eye to help you see.  Surgery removes the clouded lens and replaces it with an artificial lens. The artificial lens is placed in the same spot as your natural lens and remains a permanent part of your eye.

Cataract surgery can be done in either an outpatient setting or in a hospital. Your eye will be numbed with eye drops or with an injection around the eye. You will be awake during surgery and may see light and movement during the procedure, but you will not feel or see what the doctor is doing to your eye. The surgery itself may take only 10 minutes, but before you leave, you may need several hours of recovery after the procedure.

Recovering After Cataract Surgery

Here are some things to keep in mind after a cataract surgery:

• You may have to use eye drops after surgery
• You will be asked to not rub or press on your eye
• Your eye doctor (ophthalmologist) may ask you to wear eyeglasses or a shield to protect your eye
• Full sight recovery may take several weeks
• Complications from surgery can arise, but aren’t common

If you have a cataract, consult with your eye doctor to find out the treatment options that are right for you. Find more resources to protect your eye health.

Diabetic Eye Diseases

Some diabetic eye diseases have no obvious symptoms–but the damage done by high blood glucose levels can be caught early during a routine eye exam.

 

Know Your Risk for Diabetes

Before people develop type 2 diabetes, they almost always have prediabetes—blood sugar levels that are higher than normal but not yet high enough to be diagnosed as diabetes. There are often no clear symptoms of prediabetes so you may have it and not know it. In fact, many people have prediabetes or diabetes for years without knowing it because early symptoms can be so easy to miss. That’s why an annual comprehensive eye exam is critical for the early detection and prevention of diabetes-related eye complications. Diabetes affects the tiny blood vessels in the back of your eye, which your eye doctor can examine during an eye exam—often times these exams detect problems before you ever even experience other symptoms.

Wondering if you’re at risk for type 2 diabetes? We’re here to help. Take our free, 60-second online risk test—and if you are at risk for diabetes, talk to your health care team about getting tested.

Take the Type 2 Diabetes Risk Test

 

 

Take Control of Your Eye Health

Routine eye exams can identify problems that when treated can prevent or delay vision loss in many people with diabetes. Unfortunately many people with diabetes don’t get their eyes examined regularly and are diagnosed too late. Be sure to schedule a comprehensive eye exam every year.

Schedule appointments with your eye doctor at least once a year so they can detect any problems early and treat them.

Find an eye care professional

And be sure to follow the other steps for healthy eyes, as well.

Take control of your eye health

 

Take Control of Your Eye Health

Most importantly, early detection by a professional could save your vision. There are other steps that can help, too.

Avoid vision loss and potentially catch conditions early.

Routine exams should be done at least once a year.

 

Get Routine Eye Exams

It’s important to get a comprehensive eye exam with dilation every year to allow for a more thorough examination of your eye and to catch conditions early, before permanent damage is done.

Some diabetic eye diseases have no signs or symptoms until they are too obvious to ignore, which might present as:

• Blurred vision
• Dark spots or "holes"
• Flashes of light
• Seeing an increased amount of floaters
• Poor night vision

This is why routine exams are so important—to help avoid vision loss and potentially catch these conditions early.

Eye health benefits are determined by your health care plan. Consider your network to learn your options when making an appointment.

Schedule appointments with your eye doctor at least once a year so they can detect any problems early and treat them.

 

Find an eye care professional

• VSP Vision Care
• American Academy of Ophthalmology
• American Optometric Association
• American Society of Retina Specialists

American Diabetes Association does not endorse any product or service.

 

Monitor Your Blood Sugar

When your blood sugar is too high, it can affect the shape of your eye’s lens, causing blurry vision, which goes back to normal after your blood sugar stabilizes. High blood sugar can also damage the blood vessels in your eyes. Maintaining good control of your blood sugar helps prevent these problems.

 

Monitor Your Blood Pressure and Cholesterol

High blood pressure and high cholesterol can put you at greater risk for eye disease and vision loss. Keeping both under control will not only help your eyes but your overall health.

 

Make Healthy Lifestyle Choices

Smoking increases your risk of diabetic retinopathy and other eye conditions, but you can reduce that risk by quitting smoking. Regular exercise also has phenomenal health benefits—it can control diabetes and improve eye health.

 

Know Your Risk for Diabetes

Before people develop type 2 diabetes, they almost always have prediabetes—blood sugar levels that are higher than normal but not yet high enough to be diagnosed as diabetes. There are no clear symptoms of prediabetes so you may have it and not know it. In fact, many people have prediabetes or diabetes for years without knowing it because early symptoms can be so easy to miss. That’s why an annual comprehensive eye exam is critical for prevention and early detection of diabetes-related eye complications. Diabetes affects the tiny blood vessels in the back of your eye, which your eye doctor can examine during an eye exam—often times long before you ever even experience other symptoms

If you haven’t been told you have diabetes and are wondering if you’re at risk for type 2 diabetes, we’re here to help. Take our free, 60-second online risk test—and if you are at risk for diabetes, talk to your health care team about getting tested.

Take the Type 2 Diabetes Risk Test

 

 

Know the Warning Signs of Diabetic Eye Disease

Some diabetic eye diseases have no signs until they are too obvious to ignore, which might present as:

• Blurred vision
• Dark spots or "holes"
• Flashes of light
• Seeing an increased amount of floaters
• Poor night vision

This is why routine exams are so important–to help avoid vision loss and potentially catch these conditions early.

Understand diabetic eye disease

 

It’s Easy to Take Eyesight for Granted

But when your patients with diabetes or prediabetes lose their sight, it’s devastating.

 

Eye Doctor Saves Patient with Diabetes from Possibly Going Blind

"People with diabetic retinopathy typically have no symptoms, and if unchecked, the condition can flare up suddenly with serious consequences."

– Dr. Nishan Pressley, OD, a VSP network doctor.

 

 

Know Your Patients' Risk for Diabetes

If a patient has a diagnosis of type 1 or type 2 diabetes or prediabetes, communicate the risk of eye conditions

For patients without a diagnosis, consider the American Diabetes Association’s 60-second online Risk Test to measure type 2 diabetes risk.

Type 2 Diabetes Risk Test

 

 

Know the Warning Signs of Diabetic Eye Disease

Some diabetic eye diseases have no signs or symptoms until they are too obvious to ignore, which might present as:

• Blurred vision
• Dark spots or "holes"
• Flashes of light
• Seeing an increased amount of floaters
• Poor night vision

This is why routine eye exams are so important for your patients with diabetes and prediabetes to help avoid vision loss and potentially catch these conditions early.

More about these diseases

 

 

Help Your Patients Take Control of Their Eye Health

Please communicate to your patients the importance of annual dilated eye exams.

If you’re a Primary Care Provider, help patients manage their risk for diabetes-related eye disease by providing referrals to get routine eye exams.

Managing diabetes is crucial, as is quitting smoking.

Take control of your eye health