Looking after your eyes FAQs
How does the eye work?
The eye works a bit like a camera. Light enters through the cornea and the pupil before passing through the lens, which focuses the light onto the retina. Special cells in the retina detect the light, forming the focused image like the film in the camera. The image is sent along the optic nerve to the brain. At the centre of the retina is the macula which is responsible for the seeing part of our central vision while the retina is responsible for seeing from the edges of our vision.
How does diabetes affect eyes?
High blood glucose levels can cause changes in the shape of the lens, which can temporarily cause blurring of your vision. This commonly occurs before being diagnosed with diabetes or when diabetes isn’t well managed. The blurriness usually disappears when blood glucose levels are reduced through appropriate treatment. Therefore getting new glasses should be delayed until blood glucose levels are back within the recommended range. High blood glucose levels for long periods of time can increase the risk of more serious eye problems in people with diabetes, including:
- Retinopathy
- Cataracts
- Macular Oedema
- Glaucoma
As many people with diabetes do not notice changes in their vision until the condition is very serious, it is essential to have regular eye checks so that problems can be detected early and treated promptly.
What are the symptoms of eye disease?
Often diabetes-related eye complications have no signs or symptoms and there may be no obvious deterioration in vision until the condition is quite advanced. Changes in vision may also be so gradual that you do not notice it for some time. Where signs and symptoms are present, they can include:
- Floaters and flashes
- Blurry, blocked or dim vision
- Poor night vision
- Halos around lights or sparkles
- Sensitivity to light and glare
- Need for brighter light for reading and other activities
- Distortion or holes in vision
- Frequent changes in eyeglass prescriptions
Any change in your vision should be checked by your optometrist, ophthalmologist or doctor.
How to care for your eyes?
- Have an eye examination by an eye care professional when you are first diagnosed with diabetes and then at least every 2 years (or more often as indicated by your doctor or eye care professional). The frequency of examination may vary with different people, for example, people with type 1 diabetes, children, women during pregnancy and people who already have eye complications.
- Examination of your eyes involves viewing the back of your eyes. This will involve adding eye drops to dilate the pupils or taking a photograph of the back of your eyes.
- If retinopathy is detected, you will need to have your eyes examined more often and you may be referred to a medical eye specialist (ophthalmologist).
- Notify your eye care professional immediately if you notice any changes in your vision.
- Keep your blood glucose levels, HbA1c, blood pressure and cholesterol within the recommended ranges. High blood glucose, cholesterol and blood pressure increase the risk of developing eye complications as well as increasing the severity of eye complications.
- Have regular health checks including blood pressure readings, cholesterol measurements and kidney function tests as recommended by your diabetes care team. It is important that you discuss the results with your doctor and seek further advice for any results that are not in the recommended range.
- If you smoke, stop.
- Maintain a lifestyle that includes regular physical activity and healthy eating to better manage your blood glucose levels.
- Always take your medications as instructed by your doctor.
Most eye complications can be treated successfully if detected early. Early detection and treatment can also prevent eye complications from getting worse. However, treatment generally cannot restore vision once it has been lost. Regular eye examinations and early treatment are therefore important to prevent vision loss.
Can eye disease be treated?
Common treatments for eye complications
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Laser
This involves the use of a special form of light of a specific wavelength that is able to heat retinal tissue and blood vessels. This can minimise leakage from blood vessels and cause regression of any new and fragile vessels. -
Surgery
A surgical procedure called a vitrectomy is used in cases of advanced retinopathy. It involves the use of fine instruments inside the eye with the aim of repairing the most severe damage caused by diabetic retinopathy. -
New treatments
If your condition is not responding to other treatments, your eye care professional can give you more details of new treatments that are constantly being developed.
Who can help you to look after your eyes?
Your eye health care team consists of your general practitioner (GP), optometrist and ophthalmologist.
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General practitioner
Your GP will support you in your day-to-day diabetes management and will be the contact point for referral to other specialist health care team members as required. -
Optometrist
An optometrist may be involved in the ongoing management of your eye health. An optometrist will diagnose and manage diabetes-related eye complications. If changes are detected by your optometrist, this will be reported to your GP and if necessary you will be referred to an ophthalmologist. To find your nearest optometrist visit Optometry Australia. -
Ophthalmologist
An ophthalmologist (medical eye specialist) may also be involved in the ongoing management of your condition. An ophthalmologist will be involved if specialised medical care or treatment is required, such as laser surgery or other specialist procedures to improve vision or to prevent loss of vision. For more information about ophthalmologists visit The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists (RANZCO).