Diabetic eye problems

Diabetic eye problems that are caused by diabetes are known as diabetic eye diseases. These conditions include diabetic retinopathy, diabetic macular edema, cataracts, and glaucoma.³ ⁴ ⁵ ⁶

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Diabetic macular edema (DME) is when the blood vessels in your retina leak into the macular, the area of your retina that is important for sharp central vision, colour and detail. If you have DME you may notice your vision is wavy or you start to see colour differently.  Swelling in the macula can lead to partial or total loss of vision.⁷ ⁸ ⁹

Cataracts occur when proteins in the lens of your eye break down causing things to look blurry or cloudy. They are common as people age but if you have diabetes, you’re more likely to develop them faster and at a younger age.¹⁰

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Glaucoma is the name for a collection of diseases where the pressure in your eye damages the optic nerve, the cable that transmits information between the eye and the brain.  In the UK, about two per cent of the population over 40 have the condition¹⁴ and approximately 80 million people have glaucoma worldwide.¹⁵ Your risk of glaucoma is doubled compared to other adults if you have diabetes.

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1. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/diabetes/

2. https://www.healthline.com/health/diabetes/blurry-vision

3. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/diabetic-retinopathy/

4. https://www.healthline.com/health/diabetes/blurry-vision#edema

5. https://medlineplus.gov/diabeticeyeproblems.html

6. https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/diabetes/overview/preventing-problems/diabetic-eye-disease#:~:text=loss%20from%20diabetes%3F-,What%20is%20diabetic%20eye%20disease%3F,poor%20vision%20or%20even%20blindness.

7. https://www.healthline.com/health/diabetes/blurry-vision#edema

8. https://medlineplus.gov/diabeticeyeproblems.html

9. https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/diabetes/overview/preventing-problems/diabetic-eye-disease#:~:text=loss%20from%20diabetes%3F-,What%20is%20diabetic%20eye%20disease%3F,poor%20vision%20or%20even%20blindness.

10. https://medlineplus.gov/diabeticeyeproblems.html

11. https://www.healthline.com/health/diabetes/blurry-vision#edema

12. https://medlineplus.gov/diabeticeyeproblems.html

13. https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/diabetes/overview/preventing-problems/diabetic-eye-disease#:~:text=loss%20from%20diabetes%3F-,What%20is%20diabetic%20eye%20disease%3F,poor%20vision%20or%20even%20blindness.

14. https://www.moorfields.nhs.uk/condition/glaucoma

15. https://www.brightfocus.org/glaucoma/article/glaucoma-facts-figures#:~:text=40%20and%20over.-,More%20than%20three%20million%20Americans%20are%20living%20with%20glaucoma%2C%202.7,over%20111%20million%20by%202040.

16. https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1027458/DES09_slit_lamp_A4_plain_text_A4_version.pdf

17. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/diabetic-eye-screening/your-result/

18. https://medlineplus.gov/diabeticeyeproblems.html