Diabetes & Your Eyes

If you have diabetes, you’re probably focused on managing your blood sugar, diet, and activity — but protecting your vision is just as important. Diabetic retinopathy is a leading cause of blindness in working-age adults, yet with proper care and monitoring, vision loss is largely preventable. At Paterson Burn, we work closely with patients to help keep their eyes healthy and vision clear.

Your retina, the light-sensitive tissue at the back of your eye, depends on tiny blood vessels that can be damaged by high blood sugar. Over time, these vessels may leak or become blocked, disrupting oxygen supply and leading to stages of diabetic retinopathy—from early, symptom-free damage to more severe bleeding and swelling that affect vision.

Risk & Early Signs

Everyone with diabetes is at risk of diabetic retinopathy, but longer duration, poor blood sugar control, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, smoking, and pregnancy can increase that risk. Both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes carry risk, though patterns differ slightly.

Diabetic retinopathy often shows no early symptoms, making regular eye exams crucial. When symptoms appear, they can include blurry vision, floaters, difficulty seeing at night, or sudden vision loss. Early detection through comprehensive eye checks is the best way to protect your sight.

Eye Exams & Treatment

Eye exams are essential for anyone with diabetes. For Type 1 diabetes, we recommend your first exam within five years of diagnosis; for Type 2, soon after diagnosis, with annual follow-ups. Pregnant women with diabetes need more frequent checks. Exams use advanced tools like retinal photography and dilation to catch changes early.

While prevention through good diabetes management is key, treatments like laser therapy, anti-VEGF injections, and surgery can effectively preserve vision when needed. Most treatments are well-tolerated and can slow or stop retinopathy progression.

Managing Your Overall Health

Your eye health is tied closely to your overall wellbeing. Maintaining target blood sugar, controlling blood pressure and cholesterol, quitting smoking, staying active, and keeping a healthy weight all support healthy eyes and reduce complications.

At Paterson Burn, we collaborate with your healthcare team to provide coordinated care. Keeping us informed about your health and diabetes management helps us work together to protect your vision.

Hope & Action

A diabetic retinopathy diagnosis can be daunting, but with modern treatments and consistent care, most people maintain good vision. Early detection and ongoing management are crucial.

If you have diabetes and haven’t had an eye exam recently—or notice vision changes—don’t wait. Early intervention makes the biggest difference, and we’re here to support you every step of the way.

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