Article Reviewed By: Dr. Shradha Goel
Table of Contents
What are Cataracts?
The Connection Between Cataracts and Diabetes
Signs and Symptoms of Cataracts
Tips For Preventing Cataracts If You Have Diabetes
Treatment Option: Cataract Surgery
Bottom line
How often do you experience blurry vision during the day, which makes even simple tasks feel really hard and leaves you feeling uncomfortable and worried?
When the lens of your eye gets cloudy quite often, it might be a sign that you’re suffering from cataracts. Cataracts often form as a result of aging or damage to the tissue that makes up the lens of the eye. With the deterioration of proteins and fibres within the lens, the result is the onset of blurred vision.
While cataracts can stem from various factors, an association frequently exists between cataracts and diabetes. This is due to the fact that individuals with diabetes are potentially twice as likely to experience cataracts compared to those without the condition.
Want to know more about the link between these conditions? Read on to learn more.
What are Cataracts?
A cataract is a condition where the clear lens of your eye turns cloudy. It is like trying to look through a glass that is all frosted up. If you have cataracts, your vision becomes a bit like trying to see through fogged-up glass. This can make things like reading, driving (especially at night), and understanding facial expressions more difficult.
Cataracts often form gradually and cause no noticeable visual impairment in the early stages. However, the risk increases with the duration of diabetes, the prevalence of glucose levels outside of the target range, and the existence of macular edema (fluid buildup in the macula, the central region of the retina).
Cataracts may advance swiftly without noticeable symptoms until the clouding damages the retina in the center of the eye. As these issues persist, the idea of seeking help from a retina specialist becomes a necessity.
The Connection Between Cataracts and Diabetes
The link between these two things might be because of high blood sugar. However, one must be familiar with the physiological consequences of hyperglycemia in order to grasp the significance of this connection.
When your blood sugar level is high, and you don’t take prompt action, it can gradually destroy blood vessels throughout the body. This also applies to the capillaries that supply the eyes.
Cataracts and other visual problems may develop when blood vessels in the eye are damaged by diabetes. Also, high glucose levels in the aqueous humor cause contribute to the same.
What is Aqueous humor – It is the fluid that fills the gap between the corneal lens and the eyes and receives oxygen and nutrients in this way.
Increases in blood sugar cause swelling of the lens, which obscures vision. Enzymes in the lens turn glucose into sorbitol when blood sugar levels are uncontrolled. In addition, having too much sorbitol in the lens causes blurred vision.
In such conditions, it is always a good idea to visit the best eye dr in Mumbai and act quickly before the situation gets worse.
Signs and Symptoms of Cataracts
Cataracts are a condition that can affect your vision over time. As they progress, you might start noticing changes in your vision. Some common signs and symptoms of cataracts include:
- Light sensitivity
- Shifts in colour perception
- Impairment of night vision
- Lights with a halo around them
- Difficulty reading in low light
Cataracts are more common in the elderly, people with poor glycemic control, and those who have had diabetes for a long period of time. These signs may also indicate the presence of glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy.
Once cataracts start affecting your daily activities, removing them surgically becomes your only option. If you have diabetes and see any of these changes in your eyes, you should consult a doctor immediately.
Tips For Preventing Cataracts If You Have Diabetes
Cataracts and diabetes mostly go hand in hand, making prevention more challenging, but there are still ways that can be helpful for you to prevent them from happening.
If you have diabetes, keeping your blood sugar under control might help you avoid developing cataracts. This requires consistent glucose testing and the frequent administration of prescribed diabetic medication.
Exercising regularly is another way to keep blood sugar levels in check. Working out improves your muscles’ ability to use glucose. By saying no to smoking, maintaining healthy blood pressure and cholesterol levels, and scheduling comprehensive eye exams annually can overall contribute to keeping your eyes in good condition.
Treatment Option: Cataract Surgery
Cataract surgery is a highly effective treatment for cataracts. Opting for cataract surgery in Mumbai has proven to be immensely beneficial for many.
During the procedure, the clouded natural lens of the eye is replaced with an artificial intraocular lens (IOL). This surgery is usually outpatient, minimally invasive, and performed under local anesthesia.
The cloudy lens is carefully broken down and removed; then the IOL is inserted in its place, restoring clear vision. Patients often experience significant vision improvement and a return to their daily activities shortly after surgery.
Bottom line
As we have already discussed in the above blog, cataracts and diabetes are closely linked, and people suffering from diabetes are more likely to get cataracts because of their high blood sugar levels.
Let Arohi Eye Hospital be your guiding light and help you with your cataract-related concerns. Feel free to schedule an appointment today for top-quality services and reliable treatment.