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Eyes, Prima Medical Center Saigon, Eye Diseases

6 Surprising Facts About Diabetes and Your Eyes

10 October, 2023

If you have diabetes, you probably already know that you’re at risk for vision problems. You know that controlling your blood sugar and monitoring your A1C is vital for your overall health. It’s also critical to prevent diabetic retinopathy, which is the most common cause of vision loss from diabetes.

But here are some facts about diabetes and your eye health that you might not know:

1. Most Major Eye Diseases from the disease Takes About Five to 10 Years to Develop

But that doesn’t mean your vision is safe during those years. Damage to your eyes from uncontrolled blood sugar doesn’t have symptoms at first. That’s why it is critical to have an ophthalmologist examine your eyes regularly to find problems before you notice them.

PMSG-1408-Diabetes-Blindness
Prima Saigon: Diabetes leads to Blindness

2. People with Diabetes Are Twice as Likely to Develop Cataracts than Other Adults

People with diabetes are more prone to cataracts. Cataracts develop at a younger age and progress faster in adults with diabetes than in people without it. High blood sugar levels lead to a build-up of cells and proteins in the eye’s lens, making it cloudy. Maintaining strict control of blood glucose levels may help delay the onset of cataracts.

3. Women with Diabetes Who Become Pregnant Are at High Risk for Diabetic Retinopathy and Vision Loss

Women with diabetes should have an eye exam early in the pregnancy, then again as recommended by their ophthalmologist. However, women who develop diabetes during pregnancy (called gestational diabetes) are generally not at risk for developing retinopathy while they are pregnant.

Test Blood Glucose For Diabetes in Pregnant Woman With Glucometer
Test Blood Glucose For Diabetes in Pregnant Woman With Glucometer

4. Diabetes Can Cause Eye Muscle Paralysis and Double Vision

When diabetes causes enough damage to the body’s circulation, it can lead to paralysis of the muscles that move the eyes. If one or more muscles in one eye don’t work properly, the eyes don’t work together. The brain receives two images instead of one, causing double vision or diplopia. The double vision usually lasts a few days to a few weeks. Keeping blood sugar controlled and taking diabetes medicine as prescribed can help resolve this vision problem.

5. People with Diabetes May Be More Likely to Get Eye Infections

You probably know that people with diabetes get infections easily. In fact, when it is not controlled properly, it can affect your body’s immune system, lowering your ability to fight infection. That can lead to conjunctivitis (pink eye) and other eye infections. To prevent eye infections, keep your blood sugar levels in good control, wash your hands often, and don’t touch your eyes.

6. Blurry Vision from Diabetes Can Be Temporary or Much More Serious

If your blood sugar is not under control, you can have blurry vision that comes and goes. This blurriness will go away when you control your blood sugar. Get your blood sugar stabilized before your eye exams to get the correct eyeglass prescription.

The long-term damage of the disease can also affect your retina and the blood vessels at the back of the eye. This can cause blurry, fluctuating vision and possible permanent vision loss. Keep all your appointments with ophthalmologists at Prima Saigon to catch problems early.

Our Ophthalmologists about Eye deseases

Prima Saigon is one of the prestigious eye hospitals in Vietnam, recognized by the US embassy in Vietnam.

If you need an eye assessment, please have a visit to Prima Medical Center Saigon

  • Address: 27 Ky Dong St, District 3, HCMC
  • Websitehttps://primahealth.vn/en/
  • Business Hours: 07:30 – 17:00 from Monday – Saturday
  • HOTLINE: 0919-209-039 or 1900 – 9115

Prima Saigon recommends that clients should reserve their intended consultation at least three days before their visit for convenience and less waiting time.