A subtle change to your vision should always be checked out by a health professional, according to an ophthalmic surgeon.
Blurred vision is often one of the earliest and most easily missed clues of diabetes, said Chien Wong, consultant ophthalmic surgeon and director at OCL Vision.
This blurriness happens because the lens inside the eye can swell when blood sugar levels climb too high. (It can also have the same effect when levels drop too low.)
The result is temporary, but noticeable, blurring that can affect one or both eyes.
What happens if I don’t get it checked?
Wong said the bigger concern is what persistently high blood sugar does to the back of the eye.
Diabetes can damage the tiny blood vessels in the retina – the light-sensitive layer at the back of the eye – causing them to leak fluid and the retina to swell.
In some cases, vessels stop working altogether, prompting the growth of fragile new blood vessels that can bleed. Left unchecked, this can progress to retinal detachment or glaucoma.
The expert suggested nearly everyone living with type 1 diabetes, and around two-thirds of those with type 2 diabetes, will develop some degree of diabetic eye disease within 20 years of their diagnosis.
Other signs of type 2 diabetes to be aware of include: increased thirst, a need to urinate more often (especially at night), persistent tiredness, unexplained weight loss, cuts taking longer to heal, itching around the genital area, or recurring thrush.
“The reason we push so hard for people to get their eyes checked regularly isn’t just about the eyes themselves, it’s that the retina gives us a direct window onto what is happening throughout the body,” said Wong.
“If we spot the damage while it’s still at an early stage we have a real chance of protecting someone’s sight for good.
“Wait until vision has already changed noticeably and some of that damage may not be reversible.”
Type 2 diabetes is diagnosed with a blood test that checks how high your blood sugar levels are.
Other underlying health issues which can cause blurry vision include: retinal detachment, stroke, brain tumour, glaucoma and macular degeneration – all of which require medical attention and treatment.
Per Optometrists.org, less urgent issues that can cause blurred vision include: conjunctivitis, eye infections, migraines, eye strain and cataracts.
“Regular eye examinations remain one of the simplest ways to catch diabetic eye disease before it threatens sight,” said the ophthalmic surgeon.
“Anyone noticing a gradual or sudden change in their vision should not to dismiss it as a normal part of ageing but to get it checked.”
