There are over 30 million people in this country with diabetes, a disease in which your blood sugar, or glucose, is too high. This problem in processing glucose can potentially create problems with multiple organs in your body, including your eyes. Diabetic Eye Disease Awareness Month draws attention to the wide range of eye disorders that can occur with diabetes. Since these eye conditions can cause vision loss and even blindness, it’s important to understand the early signs, possible preventative measures, and available treatments for maintaining eye health as part of your diabetes management.

Causes and Types of Diabetic Eye Diseases

Consistently elevated glucose levels can damage blood vessels in the retina, the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye. Over time these high sugar levels can block those blood vessels, so your eye attempts to grow new ones that don’t develop properly or that leak.

The three main types of diabetic eye diseases are:

1. Diabetic Retinopathy. This is the most common diabetic eye disease and a leading cause of blindness in adults with diabetes. There are two types: early or nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR), and advanced diabetic retinopathy.
   In NPDR’s early stages, new blood vessels aren’t proliferating, or growing. Walls in your existing blood vessels weaken, and tiny bulges can sometimes leak blood and fluid into the retina.
   As its name suggests, advanced (proliferative) diabetic retinopathy is a progression to a more severe eye disease. As damaged blood vessels close off, new but weak and abnormal blood vessels grow in the retina. Not only can these new blood vessels leak fluid into your eye, but scar tissue from this new growth can cause the retina to detach.
2. Diabetic Macular Edema (DME). DME is often a consequence of diabetic retinopathy, occurring when fluid from the damaged blood vessels accumulates in the macula, which is the part of the retina that allows us to see straight ahead. This fluid can lead to blurred vision and can lead to vision loss.
3. Cataracts and Glaucoma. Those with diabetes are at a higher risk of developing cataracts, which is the clouding of the eye’s lens. Also, as scar tissue from new blood vessel growth builds, it can interfere with the eye’s normal flow of fluid, causing pressure to build in the eyeball. This can result in glaucoma.

Early Signs

Because diabetic eye diseases may develop into their early stages silently and without detection, it’s important to act quickly on any early signs:

• Blurry or fluctuating vision.
• “Floaters” – spots or dark strings that appear to be floating in your vision.
• Dark or empty spots in your field of vision.
• Sudden vision loss.

Prevention and Treatment

The best prevention to avoiding or delaying the onset of diabetic eye diseases is carefully managing your diabetes and getting yearly eye exams. Be sure to take advantage of your annual eye exams available as part of your Transocean benefits, even if your vision seems fine. You can also get important tips on making lifestyle and dietary changes to help control your blood sugar levels, and get information on available monitoring tools.

Early detection and treatment are key to managing diabetic eye diseases and preventing permanent vision loss. Depending on the specific condition and severity, treatment options range from medication to lasers and surgical options.

Remember, no question is too small for your healthcare provider. If you are enrolled in the Transocean medical plan with UHC, you can reach a registered nurse through Nurseline any time of the day or night. Diligent diabetes management and careful attention to any eye changes are your best defenses against these silent eye diseases.