How do I know if I have retina damage from diabetes

You may not get any signs of diabetes retina damage or you may get one or more signs:

• blurry or double vision
• rings, flashing lights, or blank spots
• dark or floating spots
• pain or pressure in one or both of your eyes
• trouble seeing things out of the corners of your eyes

How can diabetes hurt my eyes?

High blood glucose and high blood pressure from diabetes can hurt four parts of your eye:

1. Retina (REH-ti-nuh). The retina is the lining at the back of the eye. The retina's job is to sense light coming into the eye.
   
2. Vitreous (VIH-tree-us). The vitreous is a jelly-like fluid that fills the back of the eye.
   
3. Lens. The lens is at the front of the eye and it focuses light on the retina.
   
4. Optic nerve. The optic nerve is the eye's main nerve to the brain.

How can diabetes hurt the retinas of my eyes?

Retina damage happens slowly. Your retinas have tiny blood vessels that are easy to damage. Having high blood glucose and high blood pressure for a long time can damage these tiny blood vessels.

First, these tiny blood vessels swell and weaken. Some blood vessels then become clogged and do not let enough blood through. At first, you might not have any loss of sight from these changes. This is why you need to have a dilated eye exam once a year even if your sight seems fine. One of your eyes may be damaged more than the other. Or both eyes may have the same amount of damage.

Diabetic retinopathy (REH-tih-NOP-uh-thee) is the medical term for the most common diabetes eye problem

Does diabetes cause other eye problems?

Yes. You can get two other eye problems—cataracts and glaucoma. People without diabetes can get these eye problems, too. But people with diabetes get them more often and at a younger age.

• A cataract (KA-ter-act) is a cloud over the lens of your eye, which is usually clear. The lens focuses light onto the retina. A cataract makes everything you look at seem cloudy. You need surgery to remove the cataract. During surgery your lens is taken out and a plastic lens, like a contact lens, is put in. The plastic lens stays in your eye all the time. Cataract surgery helps you see clearly again.
  
• Glaucoma (glaw-KOH-muh) starts from pressure building up in the eye. Over time, this pressure damages your eye's main nerve—the optic nerve. The damage first causes you to lose sight from the sides of your eyes. Treating glaucoma is usually simple. Your eye doctor will give you special drops to use every day to lower the pressure in your eye. Or your eye doctor may want you to have laser surgery.

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