Can Too Much Sugar Damage Your Eyes? 3 Ways High Blood Sugar Affects Vision

Sugar has a reputation for causing weight gain, diabetes and heart disease. However, it can have other effects on your eyes. A risk factor is not often the sweet once in a while. It's a matter of poor blood sugar control and the problems it can cause down the road. This is especially for individuals with diabetes or at risk of getting it. Too much sugar can contribute to poor blood sugar management and lead to damage to the retina. Here's what goes on and what you can do to preserve your vision.

How Can Too Much Sugar Affect Your Eyes?

Dr Shibal Bhartiya, Clinical Director of Ophthalmology, Marengo Asia Hospitals, Gurugram explains, “Sugar does not harm the eye directly, but what it does to your blood sugar over the years can.”

An increased intake of packaged sugar can lead to weight gain and an increased risk of type 2 diabetes. A prolonged high blood glucose can affect small blood vessels in the body, including those in the retina. The retina is the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye that enables you to see.sugar eyes effect eyes

Dr Bhartiya highlights the scale of the problem in India. The ICMR-INDIAB study, published in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology in 2023, estimated that 101 million people in India had diabetes in 2021, while another 136 million had prediabetes. These figures show why blood sugar control matters for long-term health, including eye health.

3 Ways High Blood Sugar May Affect Your Vision

Dr Bhartiya lists 3 ways that high blood sugar may affect your eyes and vision. 

1. It Can Damage The Retina

Diabetic retinopathy is caused by high blood glucose causing damage to the very small blood vessels of the retina. These boats can leak, leak blood or get blocked. In severe cases, an abnormal blood vessel can develop and damage vision.

Dr Bhartiya cautions that DR might not have any symptoms in its early stages. This means you could have retinal damage even if you can still read, work and see clearly.

2. It May Increase The Risk Of Cataracts

A cataract is the cloudiness of the lens of the eye that makes it harder to see clearly. Diabetics show up with cataracts at an earlier age and more often than non-diabetics.

The American Diabetes Association's Standards of Care notes that cataracts and other eye disorders occur earlier and more often in people with diabetes. Management of blood sugar, blood pressure and cholesterol is also emphasized to help lower the risk of complications.

Having a dessert won't lead to cataracts. The worry is the on-going impact of poor blood sugar control and other risk factors.

3. Your Vision May Become Blurry Temporarily

Ever had the feeling that your vision isn't clear at certain times? The blood sugar fluctuation may temporarily alter the shape and focusing of the eye's lens. This can lead to blurriness of vision.

But, not everything that is blurry is caused by sugar. 

Other eye conditions such as refractive errors, dry eyes, infections can also result in the same symptoms. If the blurring does not get better or it comes back, make an eye exam appointment.

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What Foods Should You Cut Back On?

Dr Bhartiya emphasises that the habits we have in our daily diet can add up. Sweets aren't the only place where sugar or too much refined carbs can be found.

Try to limit:

• Sugary drinks, packaged juices and soft drinks.
• Eat sweets and biscuits, cakes and other desserts often.
• Daily sugars in tea and coffee.
• Excess of refined carbohydrates (white rice, products made from refined flour etc.).

Everything sweet doesn't have to be cut out. Eat balanced meals with portions in mind, and physical activity is on a regular basis. Eat whole fruit more often than sugary drinks; have vegetables, whole grains, pulses and protein foods as regular components of meals.

How Can You Protect Your Eyes?protect eyes

Dr Bhartiya suggests to minimize extra sugar consumption, regular exercise and control blood sugar.

If you have diabetes, arrange regular comprehensive eye examinations, including a dilated retinal examination, as advised by your eye specialist. The Indian diabetic retinopathy screening guidelines stress that retinal changes can develop without symptoms, making regular screening important for early detection.

• Don't put off an eye exam due to blurriness. 
• Talk to your health provider about your blood sugar and screenings if you or your family has diabetes.
• Dr Bhartiya recommends reducing excess sugar, exercising regularly and keeping blood sugar under control.
• Do not wait for blurred vision before getting your eyes checked. 
• If you have diabetes or a strong family history of it, speak to your doctor about your blood sugar and screening needs.

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Conclusion

Eating sweets from time to time is not likely to damage the eyes. However, if blood sugar levels are kept consistently high, it may have a negative long-term impact on vision. Reduce added sugars, be active and manage blood sugar. Even if you think you can see just fine, get regular eye check-ups if you have diabetes because some eye problems may not have signs or symptoms until they are in the later stages.

What is important to understand is that a little sugar is not a problem for the eyes. The greater issue is a long period which adds to diabetes or poor blood sugar control.