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Blurred vision may be a minor problem that can be resolved with eye drops. Blurred vision may also indicate a more serious illness, such as diabetes, or diabetes-related complications, such as retinopathy.
Blurry vision means it’s difficult to recognize details in what you’re seeing.
Blurred vision can be an early sign of diabetes. For people who have been diagnosed with diabetes, blurred vision may indicate that blood sugar levels are too high or not within target range.
Blurry vision may be caused by fluid leaking into the lens of your eye. This causes the lens to swell and change shape. These changes make it difficult for your eyes to focus, making things appear blurry.
Blurred vision may also occur when insulin therapy is started. This is caused by fluid movement and usually resolves after a few weeks. For many people, when their blood sugar levels stabilize, so does their vision.
Learn more about possible causes of blurred vision due to diabetes.
High blood sugar levels, or hyperglycemia, result from a buildup of glucose in the blood when the body lacks enough insulin to process it.
Besides blurred vision, other symptoms of high blood sugar include:
- headache
- Malaise
- Increased thirst and urination
High blood sugar and average A1C levels high risk Reduces the risk of diabetes-related complications, including eye health problems such as:
One of the eye complications of diabetes is diabetic retinopathy.will affect More than 1 in 3 people If you have diabetes, regardless of type.
A symptom of diabetic retinopathy is blurred vision.
The stages of diabetic retinopathy include:
- Stage 1: Mild non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy
- Stage 2: Moderate non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy
- Stage 3: Severe non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy
- Stage 4: proliferative diabetic retinopathy
Most people do not develop symptoms of diabetic retinopathy until it progresses to later stages. In addition to blurred vision, the following symptoms may occur:
- floaters
- hard to see at night
- loss of vision
- distorted vision
- change in color of vision
Diabetic retinopathy cannot be reversed, but treatment can be used in conjunction with diabetes management to stabilize retinopathy.
If you have cataracts, your vision may become blurred.person with diabetes tends to develop They develop cataracts at a younger age than other people. Cataracts cause the lens of the eye to become cloudy.
Other symptoms include:
- faded color
- cloudy vision
- Double vision, usually in one eye
- light sensitivity
- Glare or halo around lights
- Your vision doesn’t improve with new glasses, or you have to change your prescription frequently
Blurred vision can also be a symptom of glaucoma, a disease in which pressure inside the eye damages the optic nerve.
by National Eye InstituteIf you have diabetes, your risk of glaucoma is twice as high as other adults.
Other symptoms of glaucoma include:
- Loss of peripheral or tunnel vision
- halo around lights
- redness of eyes
- eye pain
- nausea or vomiting
The macula is the center of the retina. It is the part of the eye that gives sharp central vision.
Macular edema is a condition in which the macula swells due to fluid leakage. Other symptoms of macular edema include wavy vision and color changes.
Diabetic macular edema (DME) results from diabetic retinopathy. Usually affects both eyes.
According to the National Eye Institute, 1 in 15 people Living with diabetes can lead to DME.
Diabetes increases the risk of various eye problems. It is important to manage your blood sugar levels, follow all medication and test instructions, and have regular health and eye exams. This should include a comprehensive eye exam with dilation each year.
Be sure to tell your doctor about all your symptoms, as well as all the medicines you are taking.
By addressing fluctuations in blood sugar levels, symptoms such as blurred vision may disappear.
However, if you are experiencing this symptom, it may also indicate diabetic retinopathy. This may require treatments such as laser therapy or medicated eye injections.
An ophthalmologist is the best professional you can consult to assess your eye health and treat if necessary.
Blurred vision is just one symptom of diabetic retinopathy. There is no guarantee that this will happen.
Several issues related to diabetes and medications can affect vision. It may also indicate another health problem or condition.
Consulting with a medical professional is a good first step to determining whether you need to see an eye doctor for further testing or treatment.
necessarily. Blurred vision may be a sign that you have diabetic retinopathy, but it is not guaranteed. Also, just because you have diabetic retinopathy, it doesn’t necessarily mean you need laser treatment or eye injections.
An eye care team that specializes in diabetic eye health can best determine what you need.
Blurred vision can be a minor problem that can be easily fixed, such as with eye drops or a new prescription for glasses.
However, it may also indicate a serious eye disease or an underlying condition other than diabetes. Therefore, it is best to report blurred vision or other vision changes to your doctor.
Early treatment can often correct the problem and prevent it from getting worse.