If you have diabetes, it’s important to know the problems it can cause. You may already know about heart disease and nerve damage, but another problem is macular degeneration.
It happens when a part of your eye called the macula gets damaged over time due to uncontrolled glucose levels in the body.
In this blog, we’ll talk about how you can take care of your eyes and prevent macular degeneration.
What is Macular Degeneration?
Macular degeneration is an eye condition that affects the macula, a small part of the retina at the back of your eye. The macula helps you see sharp, detailed images. When it gets damaged, you might have trouble seeing fine details, reading, or recognizing faces.
Macular degeneration can be:
- Dry Macular Degeneration: This is the most common type. It develops when the macula thins over time, leading to blurred or reduced central vision.
- Wet Macular Degeneration: This type is less common but more severe. It develops when abnormal blood vessels grow under the retina of the eye and leak fluid or blood, causing rapid vision loss.
What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a condition where your body has trouble managing blood sugar (glucose) levels. There are two main types:
- Type 1 Diabetes: Mostly diagnosed in children and young adults. The body doesn’t produce insulin, a hormone needed to control blood sugar.
- Type 2 Diabetes: More common in adults. The body doesn’t use insulin properly or doesn’t produce enough.
How Are Macular Degeneration and Diabetes Connected?
People with diabetes are at a higher risk of developing eye problems, including macular degeneration. High blood sugar levels can damage blood vessels in the retina, leading to various eye conditions like diabetic retinopathy and macular degeneration.
Why Does This Happen?
- High Blood Sugar: Consistently high blood sugar can damage the tiny blood vessels in your eyes, causing them to leak or swell.
- Poor Circulation: Damaged blood vessels mean less oxygen and nutrients reach the retina, leading to macular degeneration.
- Inflammation: Diabetes can cause inflammation, which can further damage the retina and macula.
Symptoms of Macular Degeneration with Diabetes
Recognizing the symptoms early can help you get the treatment you need. Here are some common symptoms:
- Blurry Vision: Difficulty seeing fine details or reading small print.
- Dark or Empty Spots: You may notice dark or empty areas in the center of your vision.
- Distorted Vision: Straight lines may appear bent.
- Difficulty Recognizing Faces: Trouble seeing faces clearly, especially in low light.
If you experience any of these symptoms of macular degeneration with diabetes, it’s important to see an eye doctor as soon as possible.
Managing Macular Degeneration with Diabetes
Managing macular degeneration with diabetes involves taking care of both your general health and your eye health. Here are some tips to managing macular degeneration with diabetes:
Control Your Blood Sugar
It’s important to keep your blood sugar levels in the right range. Here’s how:
- Follow your meal plan by eating healthy foods like veggies, grains, and lean proteins.
- Avoid sugary drinks and foods.
- Check your blood sugar often to see if it’s in the right range.
- Take your diabetes medication as directed.
- Exercise regularly for at least 30 minutes most days of the week to help control your blood sugar levels.
Get Regular Eye Exams and Seek Macular Degeneration Treatment
It’s important to get your eyes checked regularly, so any problems can be found early. Your eye doctor will look for changes in your vision and can give you medicine, laser therapy, or shots to help with macular degeneration. They may also suggest tools like magnifying glasses or special lenses to improve your vision.
Quit Smoking
Smoking can worsen both diabetes and macular degeneration. Quitting smoking improves blood circulation and reduces inflammation, helping to protect your eyes.
Protect Your Eyes from UV Light
Exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light can harm your eyes. Wear sunglasses that block 100% of UV rays whenever you’re outside. A wide-brimmed hat can also provide additional eye protection.
Manage Blood Pressure and Cholesterol
High blood pressure and cholesterol can hurt the blood vessels that carry blood in your body, even in your eyes. To take care of them, do the following:
- Eat foods that are good for your heart and blood vessels, like fruits, veggies, and whole grains.
- Take any medicine the doctor gives you to control blood pressure and cholesterol.
- Don’t eat too much salt or unhealthy fat, because they can make your blood pressure and cholesterol worse.
Use Vision Aids
If macular degeneration with diabetes has made it difficult for you to see, there are things that can help you still do things on your own. For example, prescription glasses can help maximize your vision. You can also make changes like reading books with larger fonts and using audio devices that listen to your voice and give you information without needing to read a screen.
Macular Degeneration with Diabetes in Washington, MO
Are you concerned about macular degeneration and its impact on your eyesight? At Advanced Sight Center, we understand how crucial your vision is to your quality of life. Our board-certified ophthalmologists and skilled optometrists specialize in diagnosing and treating a wide range of conditions, including macular degeneration with diabetes.
If you would like to learn more about the treatment of macular degeneration with diabetes, call us today at (636) 239-1650 or fill out our appointment request form. We look forward to serving you!
