Diabetic Eye Disease

Protecting Your Vision When You Have Diabetes

Diabetes doesn’t just affect your blood sugar — it can also affect the delicate blood vessels in your eyes, leading to diabetic retinopathy and other vision problems. Left unchecked, these changes can cause irreversible vision loss.

The good news? With regular eye exams, early detection, and the right management, most serious diabetic eye complications can be prevented.

How Diabetes Affects the Eyes

High blood sugar can damage the tiny blood vessels that supply your retina, the light-sensitive layer at the back of your eye. Over time, this can lead to:

• Diabetic retinopathy – Weak or leaky blood vessels, or abnormal new vessels that can bleed into the eye.
• Macular oedema – Swelling of the macula, affecting central vision.
• Increased risk of glaucoma and cataracts.

Because diabetic eye disease often develops without symptoms, many people don’t realise there’s a problem until vision changes occur, by which time, damage may be harder to treat.

Who’s at Risk?

Anyone with type 1 or type 2 diabetes can develop diabetic eye disease, but the risk is higher if you:

• Have had diabetes for many years
• Have poor blood sugar control
• Have high blood pressure or high cholesterol
• Smoke
• Are pregnant and have diabetes

Symptoms to Watch For

You may notice:

• Blurred or fluctuating vision
• Dark spots, floaters, or streaks in your vision
• Difficulty seeing at night
• Empty or dark areas in your field of vision

However, it’s possible to have diabetic retinopathy with no symptoms at all, which is why regular eye checks are so important.

FAQs About Diabetic Eye Disease

Q: How often should I have my eyes checked if I have diabetes?
At least once every 12 months, or more often if your optometrist or GP recommends it.

Q: If my blood sugar is under control, do I still need eye checks?
Yes, even well-controlled diabetes can cause subtle eye changes over time.

Q: Will diabetic retinopathy cause blindness?
Not if detected and treated early. The biggest risk comes from delaying eye exams.

Q: Can diabetic eye damage be reversed?
Some early changes can improve with better diabetes control, but advanced damage is usually permanent, which is why early detection is key.

Your eyes deserve the same care you give the rest of your health.

Book a diabetic eye assessment to maintain your eyes health

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