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Diabetes and Your
Eyes
What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic disease that has no
cure.
It is a leading cause of death in Canada.
Approximately 6% of Canadians have
diabetes.
An optometrist knows your eyes inside and
out.
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The Three Types of Diabetes
Type 1 diabetes occurs when the body
(specifically, the pancreas) no longer
produces insulin. We need insulin to use
sugar for energy.
Approximately 10 per cent of people with
diabetes have type 1 diabetes.
An optometrist knows your eyes inside and
out.
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The Three Types of Diabetes
Type 2 diabetes occurs when the
pancreas does not produce enough
insulin or when the body does not
effectively use the insulin that is
produced.
90% of people with diabetes have type 2
diabetes.
An optometrist knows your eyes inside and
out.
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The Three Types of Diabetes
Gestational diabetes is a
temporary condition that
occurs during pregnancy.
It affects approximately 3.5%
of all pregnancies and
involves an increased risk of
developing diabetes for both
mother and child.
An optometrist knows your eyes inside and
out.
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Is Diabetes Serious?
If left untreated or improperly managed,
diabetes can result in a variety of
complications, including:
• heart disease;
• kidney disease;
• impotence;
• nerve damage;
• and eye disease!
An optometrist knows your eyes inside and
out.
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Diabetes and the Eyes
Diabetic eye problems include:
• fluctuating vision;
• cataracts;
• glaucoma;
• diabetic retinopathy.
An optometrist knows your eyes inside and
out.
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Fluctuating Vision
Diabetes can cause large shifts in
nearsightedness and farsightedness as
blood sugar levels fluctuate.
An optometrist knows your eyes inside and
out.
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Diabetes Increases Cataract Risk
A cataract is a clouded
lens within the eye.
Treatment is surgical
removal of the cataract and
replacement with an
artificial lens.
Cataract surgery is very
safe and has excellent
outcomes.
An optometrist knows your eyes inside and
out.
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Diabetes and Glaucoma
Diabetes can lead to blood
vessel development in the
drainage angle of the eye.
This can raise eye pressure
and cause glaucoma.
The optic nerve gets
damaged and peripheral
vision is lost.
An optometrist knows your eyes inside and
out.
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Diabetic Retinopathy
Diabetic retinopathy is
the most serious ocular
complication of
diabetes.
An optometrist knows your eyes inside and
out.
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Diabetic Retinopathy
One-third of diabetics have diabetic
retinopathy.
It is now the most common cause of
blindness under age 65, and the most
common cause of new blindness in
North America.
An optometrist knows your eyes inside and
out.
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Diabetes and the Eyes
Many patients with retinopathy don't
have any warning symptoms in the early
stages of the disease.
Routine eye examinations are the best
method of detecting and preventing the
development of severe blood vessel
damage in the eyes.
An optometrist knows your eyes inside and
out.
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Will I Get Retinopathy?
The single most
important risk
factor is the length
of time you've had
diabetes.
An optometrist knows your eyes inside and
out.
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Will I Get Retinopathy?
Type 1 patients usually don't develop
retinopathy until at least five years after
the onset of the disease.
After 15 years with diabetes, however,
98% of patients demonstrate some
retinopathy.
An optometrist knows your eyes inside and
out.
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Will I Get Retinopathy?
In type 2 diabetes, the development of
retinopathy happens much more quickly.
One-fifth of type 2 patients show signs
of retinopathy when their diabetes is first
diagnosed.
Ultimately, diabetes will cause changes
in the eyes for 78% of type 2 patients.
An optometrist knows your eyes inside and
out.
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What Happens With
Diabetic Retinopathy?
Diabetes
damages the tiny
blood vessels in
the part of the
eye called the
retina.
An optometrist knows your eyes inside and
out.
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What Happens With
Diabetic Retinopathy?
Over time, the ability to deliver blood (and
oxygen) to the retinal tissues of the eye is lost.
New, abnormal, weak blood vessels may start to
grow.
The new or existing blood vessels become
"leaky."
Blood and fat (blood lipid) can seep out of these
damaged capillaries.
This makes the retina bleed and swell.
An optometrist knows your eyes inside and
out.
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Diabetic Retinopathy
Hemorrhages &
Soft Exudates
An optometrist knows your eyes inside and
out.
Proliferative
Retinopathy
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Treatment: Laser Photocoagulation
for Mild or Non-Proliferative Retinopathy
The bright light of the laser is used to
burn and seal off the damaged blood
vessels so the leakage stops.
The treatment is painless, using only
eye drops to freeze the eye.
The goal is to slow down the rate of
visual loss.
An optometrist knows your eyes inside and
out.
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Treatment: Laser Photocoagulation
for Mild or Non-Proliferative Retinopathy
The laser is used to create scars throughout the
peripheral retina.
A scarred retina needs less oxygen than an
untreated retina — therefore the new abnormal
blood vessels are no longer needed.
This is a much more extensive technique,
performed during three to four sessions over several
weeks.
The periphery of the retina has many nerves, and
some patients find these treatments more
uncomfortable.
An optometrist knows your eyes inside and
out.
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Vitrectomy
If bleeding in the eye is extensive, or
associated with the formation of scar
tissue and detached retinas, vitrectomy
surgery may be necessary to remove
scar tissue and the inner “jelly” of the
eye.
An optometrist knows your eyes inside and
out.
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Reducing the Risk of
Diabetic Complications
Early diagnosis and treatment – see
your family physician for routine
physicals.
If you have diabetes – tight blood sugar
control, control blood pressure and
blood lipids, and…
An optometrist knows your eyes inside and
out.
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Reducing the Risk of
Diabetic Complications
Routine eye
examinations
Diabetic retinopathy often
presents with no visual
warning signs!
An optometrist knows your eyes inside and
out.
opto.ca
Reducing the Risk of
Diabetic Complications
All patients diagnosed with
type 1 or 2 should visit an
optometrist or
ophthalmologist for an eye
exam.
During the exam, eye drops
will be used to dilate the
pupils and a thorough retinal
examination will be done.
An optometrist knows your eyes inside and
out.
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Reducing the Risk of
Diabetic Complications
People with diabetes
should have an eye
examination at least once
a year.
Routine eye examinations
are the best method of
detecting and preventing
the development of severe
damage in the eyes.
An optometrist knows your eyes inside and
out.
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your eyes deserve an optometrist