Sugar has become ubiquitous in our eating habits, but its excessive intake can harm our health, including our eyesight. Delving into the lesser-known connection between excess sugar intake and poor eye health is essential. Beyond its impact on overall well-being, high sugar consumption can contribute to various eye-related issues. We can proactively protect our vision by understanding the early signs and symptoms. A few common signs are mentioned below.
Blurry vision
Blurry vision is a common issue resulting from high blood sugar levels. Uncontrolled blood sugar levels might cause the eye lens to swell up, resulting in vision changes. Maintaining healthy blood sugar levels is crucial to ensuring this does not happen. If someone experiences blurry vision because of high blood glucose, it can take a few months or more of management to get it back to normal. Instead, speak to the doctor about adding supplements and sugarless multivitamins as treatment options that might help speed up recovery.
Diabetic retinopathy
Diabetic retinopathy is one of the common consequences of unmanaged high blood sugar in diabetes patients. Prolonged high blood sugar levels can irreversibly damage the fragile blood vessels in the retina. This can cause blindness or visual impairment in patients. Diabetic retinopathy is also known as diabetic eye.
Glaucoma
Diabetes patients might experience fluid buildup that can cause the narrowing of blood vessels in the eyes. The inability of this fluid to drain results in excessive pressure in the eye, known as glaucoma. While the pressure builds in the eye, there is no pain. However, if left untreated, it can damage the patient’s optic nerve and might even result in peripheral vision loss. Diabetes patients are twice as likely to develop glaucoma as compared to others. In some cases, it might even progress into blindness.
Cataract
The lens of the eye helps focus light and images for the retina and helps transmit the respective messages to the brain. This lens is affected by cataracts. Cataracts cause the usually clear lens to appear clouded. It makes the patient’s vision blurry or distorted. The cloudy lens makes it difficult for the eyes to focus on anything, turning the patient’s vision glaring. High blood sugar levels can change the appearance of the lens and increase the individual’s chances of getting cataracts. It is, therefore, important to manage the intake of glucose and other sugars present in food. One of the easiest ways to manage blood sugar levels is by switching to sugar-free alternatives.
Age-related macular degeneration
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is another condition that is more likely to affect diabetic patients than others. People with uncontrollable high blood sugar levels are more susceptible to this condition. It occurs when the macula, the middle part of the retina, starts to deteriorate. It is the macula that helps provide clear and central vision. It is vital for activities like reading and driving. People with AMD experience dimmed or blurred vision. They might also have to deal with the appearance of straight or wavy lines in their field of vision.
