Diabetic Eye Problems Summary If you have diabetes, your blood glucose, or blood sugar, levels are too high. Over time, this can damage your eyes. The most common problem is diabetic retinopathy. It is a leading cause of blindness in American adults. Your retina is the light-sensitive tissue at the back of your eye. You need a healthy retina to see clearly. Diabetic retinopathy damages the tiny blood vessels inside your retina. You may not notice it at first. Symptoms can include Blurry or double vision Rings, flashing lights, or blank spots Dark or floating spots Pain or pressure in one or both of your eyes Trouble seeing things out of the corners of your eyes Treatment often includes laser treatment or surgery, with follow-up care. Two other eye problems can happen to people with diabetes. A cataract is a cloud over the lens of your eye. Surgery helps you see clearly again. Glaucoma happens when pressure builds up in the eye, damaging the main nerve. Eye drops or surgery can help. If you have diabetes, you should have a complete eye exam every year. Finding and treating problems early may save your vision. NIH: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases National Eye Institute Find an Expert American Diabetes Association American Diabetes Association Directory of Diabetes Organizations National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases Find Services for People Who Are Blind or Visually Impaired American Foundation for the Blind Finding an Eye Care Professional National Eye Institute National Eye Institute National Eye Institute National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases Clinical Trials ClinicalTrials.gov: Diabetic Retinopathy National Institutes of Health Array Diabetes – eye care Diabetes – retinal conditions Diabetes and eye disease Diabetes eye exams Fluorescein angiography Intravitreal injection Laser photocoagulation — eye Prevent Diabetes Problems: Keep Your Eyes Healthy National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases Retina Standard ophthalmic exam Specifics Diabetes and Your Eyesight (Glaucoma) Glaucoma Research Foundation Start Here Diabetic Eye Disease National Eye Institute Diabetic Retinopathy National Eye Institute Eye Complications American Diabetes Association Learn the Facts about Diabetic Retinopathy National Eye Institute What Is Diabetic Retinopathy? American Academy of Ophthalmology Statistics and Research Diabetic Retinopathy National Eye Institute Number (in Millions) of Adults Aged 18 Years or Older with Diagnosed Diabetes Reporting Visual Impairment, United States, 1997-2011 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Patient Access to Research American Diabetes Association Seniors Diabetic Retinopathy National Eye Institute Treatments and Therapies Diabetic Retinopathy Treatment American Academy of Ophthalmology Reference Desk Diagram of the Eye National Eye Institute Glossary of Terms Foundation of the American Academy of Ophthalmology Diagnosis and Tests Dilating Eye Drops American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus Images Eye Disease Simulations National Eye Institute Non-Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy Vision Simulator Foundation of the American Academy of Ophthalmology Videos and Tutorials Living with Diabetic Retinopathy National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases Prevent Vision Loss with Early Diagnosis National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases What is Diabetic Eye Disease? National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases Journal Articles Diabetic Eye Problems Related Issues Talking to Your Doctor National Eye Institute What Is Macular Edema? American Academy of Ophthalmology NIH MedlinePlus Magazine Videos from the National Eye Institute: Eye Diseases Symptoms Vision Symptoms American Academy of Ophthalmology Prevention and Risk Factors You Have Diabetes. How Can You Avoid Serious Eye Diseases? Lighthouse Guild
