| HIGH BLOOD SUGAR CAN EFFECT YOUR | | | | recognize people's faces in the distance or to see |
| EYESIGHT | | | | details like small print. The amount of central vision |
| it is very important for your body to rest and is | | | | that is lost varies from person to person. |
| essential to regaining control of your health. | | | | However everyday sight for getting around the |
| Your eye has a lens and an aperture (opening) | | | | house and outside (navigation vision) will be |
| at the front, which brings objects into focus on | | | | preserved. It is quite rare for someone with |
| the retina at the back of the eye. The retina is | | | | maculopathy to lose all their sight. |
| made up of a delicate tissue that is sensitive to | | | | Proliferative diabetic retinopathy: Sometimes |
| light, like film in the old cameras. At the center of | | | | diabetes can cause the blood vessels in the retina |
| the retina is the macula which is a small area | | | | to become blocked. If this happens then new |
| about the size of a pinhead. This is the most | | | | blood vessels form in the eye. This is nature's |
| highly specialized part of the retina and it is vital | | | | way of trying to repair the damage so that the |
| because it enables us to see fine detail to read | | | | retina has a new blood supply. |
| small print. The other parts of the retina give us | | | | Unfortunately these new blood vessels are |
| side vision (peripheral vision). The rest of the eye | | | | weak. They are also in the wrong place - growing |
| in front of the retina is a clear jelly-like substance | | | | on the surface of the retina and into the vitreous |
| called the vitreous humour. | | | | jelly. As a result these blood vessels can bleed |
| Diabetes can affect the eye in a number of | | | | very easily and cause scar tissue to form in the |
| ways. These usually involve the fine network of | | | | eye. The scarring pulls and distorts the retina. |
| blood vessels in the retina - the most sever | | | | When the retina is pulled out of position this is |
| condition that can occur is diabetic retinopathy. | | | | called retinal detachment. This condition is more |
| Blurring Vision | | | | rare than background retinopathy and is more |
| Your vision may become blurred for a few days | | | | often found in people who have been insulin |
| or weeks while your diabetes is first being | | | | dependent for many years. The new blood |
| controlled. This is due to the swelling of the lens | | | | vessels will rarely affect your vision, but their |
| of the eye. | | | | consequences, such as bleeding or retinal |
| Cataract | | | | detachment can cause your vision to get worse |
| This can occur in two forms: Young people with | | | | suddenly. |
| diabetes can develop a special type of cataract. | | | | Your eyesight may become blurred and patchy |
| Although their vision gets worse, it can be | | | | as the bleeding obscures part of your vision. |
| restored by surgery; older people with diabetes | | | | Without treatment, total loss of vision can happen |
| can be especially prone to developing cataracts. | | | | in proliferative retinopathy. |
| Cataracts can be successfully removed by | | | | With treatment most sight-threatening diabetic |
| surgery and usually it is possible to insert a lens | | | | problems can be prevented if caught early |
| implant. This procedure is not for everyone. | | | | enough. |
| Diabetic retinopathy | | | | Lower blood sugar will help you preventing and |
| The most serious diabetic eye condition involves | | | | treat diabetic retinopathy |
| the retina and is called diabetic retinopathy. This | | | | Although your vision may be good, changes can |
| condition is very common in people who have had | | | | be taking place to your retina that needs |
| diabetes for a long time. Your doctor may be able | | | | treatment. Most sight loss in diabetes is |
| to see abnormalities in your eyes, but there is no | | | | preventable: early diagnosis is vital have an eye |
| threat to your sight. | | | | examination every year do not wait until your |
| There are two types of diabetic retinopathy | | | | vision has deteriorated to have an eye test. |
| which can damage your sight. Both involve the | | | | Your family doctor or optometrist can examine |
| fine network of blood vessels in the retina. They | | | | for diabetic retinopathy. |
| are described below. | | | | Remember, however, that if your vision is |
| Maculopathy : This happens when the blood | | | | getting worse, this does not necessarily mean you |
| vessels in the retina start to leak. If the macula is | | | | have diabetic retinopathy. It may simply be a |
| affected, you will find that your central vision | | | | problem that can be corrected by glasses. |
| gradually gets worse. You may find it difficult to | | | | |