For people living with uncontrolled type 1 and type 2 diabetes, an excess of blood sugar can damage or block the tiny blood vessels in their retina, resulting in a condition called diabetic retinopathy. The most common form of vision loss associated with diabetes, diabetic retinopathy affects approximately one million Canadians, making it the leading cause of blindness among working-age adults.
Diabetic retinopathy can develop into diabetic macular edema (or DME), a complication that occurs when blood vessels in the retina leak fluid, causing the macula, which is the central part of the retina, to swell. This extra fluid can cause vision to become blurry and can even lead to blindness.
Symptoms of DME include blurry or distorted vision, seeing more floaters and colours appearing washed out. However, as DME is typically asymptomatic in the early stages, those affected could unknowingly live with this condition while their vision deteriorates over time.
The longer somebody is diabetic and the less well-controlled it is, the more likely they are to run into vision problems from their diabetes.
“DME is insidious because it happens over time,” explains Dr. Peter Kertes, MD, ophthalmologist and retinal specialist at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre in Toronto. “The longer somebody is diabetic and the less well-controlled it is, the more likely they are to run into vision problems from their diabetes.”
People living with diabetes must play an active role in helping manage not only their diabetes but their vision health as well. “It’s important that people with diabetes get screened regularly for diabetic retinopathy and DME — not just at the time of diagnosis, but at regular intervals thereafter,” stresses Dr. Kertes.
While DME is a manageable condition, sight cannot be restored once lost. “If they start out with bad vision, it’s unlikely that their vision will be normalized,” explains Dr. Kertes.
Beyond its physical impact, vision loss can also have wide-ranging effects on a person’s quality of life, including mental health, loss of independence, and social isolation. This added psychosocial burden makes it even more imperative for vision health to be a priority for people living with diabetes.
Brought to you by Novartis Pharmaceuticals Canada Inc.
