Diabetes and Eye Health: Expert Shares Hidden Infections and Conditions That Can Arise

Diabetes is usually accompanied by symptoms like fatigue, frequent urination, and blood sugar fluctuations. Yet there is one important thing which many patients do not often consider, which is diabetes and eye health. According to experts, one needs to know about the hidden infections and conditions that can arise due to diabetes. 

So the editorial team of Onlymyhealth reached out to Dr Aditya Kelkar, Director, NIO Super Specialty Hospital - Pune, who shed light on hidden infections and eye conditions that can quietly develop in people living with diabetes.

How Diabetes Affects the Eyes

High blood sugar can cause damage to the small blood vessels in the retina, which is the light-sensitive tissue behind the eye. Diabetic retinopathy, which is the most common cause of blindness for adults worldwide, can result from this damage. "Many patients do not realize how insidious the onset of this disease is. Early stages may not be symptomatic,” highlighted Dr Kelkar.

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Apart from retinopathy, diabetes can also lead to an increased risk of other eye problems such as glaucoma, cataracts, and dry eye syndrome. Glaucoma, for example, results from optic nerve damage, generally from increased pressure within the eye. People with diabetes are at a higher risk because the increased glucose might affect fluid drainage within the eyes. Cataracts, which are the clouding of the lens, usually start to develop sooner in those people suffering from diabetes, tending to reduce clarity of vision over a period of time.

Hidden Eye Infections and Conditions

Besides these well-recognised complications, diabetes can also render patients more vulnerable to specific infections and less obvious conditions. “People with diabetes have a weakened immune response, which means infections can develop more easily and heal more slowly,” shared Dr Kelkar.

One such condition is bacterial keratitis, an infection of the cornea. Symptoms can include redness, pain, blurred vision, and permanent scarring if left untreated. Fungal eye infections occur less often but are a possibility, more so for contact wearers or those who experience eye trauma.

Another unseen complication is DME. This involves fluid accumulation in the macula, the center of the retina, causing swelling and thereby distorting vision. Dr Kelkar pointed  out, “DME can develop silently, and patients often notice changes in their vision only when it has advanced. Eye examinations are required routinely to detect this early.”

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Preventive Measures and Regular Check-ups

According to experts, prevention and early detection are the best ways of maintaining eye health in diabetic patients. These include:

• Regular Eye Examinations: The American Diabetes Association recommends that adults with diabetes have at least a yearly comprehensive eye exam by an ophthalmologist or optometrist.
• Blood Glucose Control: Good blood glucose levels can help significantly in minimising the risk of all the diabetic eye complications.
• Healthy Lifestyle Choices: Diet, exercise, and quitting smoking can protect blood vessels in the entire body, including the ones in the eyes.
• Prompt Attention to Symptoms: Any sudden change in vision, eye pain, or unusual redness should prompt immediate consultation with an eye specialist.

Bottomline

Diabetes does not only affect blood sugar, it also silently damages eyes by causing infections, retinopathy, glaucoma, and more. Long-term vision can only be preserved through regular screening and proactive management.