Many patients with diabetic eye problems are asymptomatic despite the presence of vision-threatening disease. If diabetic eye disease is left untreated, it can lead to serious visual loss. Decreased vision due to diabetes can be caused by several mechanisms, and treatment for the decreased vision needs to be tailored to the individual's needs. Many diabetics notice blurred vision when their blood sugar is particularly high or low. This blurred vision is due to changes in the shape of the lens of the eye, and usually reverse when the blood sugar returns to normal.
Diabetics are also prone to develop cataracts at a younger age than non-diabetics.
Diabetes is a disease that affects not only the blood sugar levels, but also the blood vessels. The damaged blood vessels also tend to leak, producing swelling within the retina. This disease of the retinal blood vessels is known as diabetic retinopathy. There are two main categories of diabetic eye disease. This stage is characterized by damage to small retinal blood vessels, causing them to leak blood or fluid into the retina.