Diabetes affects many parts of the body, including your eyes. While most people are aware that diabetes can lead to conditions like diabetic retinopathy, fewer realize that it can also increase the risk of developing glaucoma. Understanding this connection is essential, because glaucoma often progresses silently and can cause permanent vision loss if not detected early.

Understanding the Link Between Diabetes and Glaucoma

Glaucoma is a group of eye diseases that damage the optic nerve, usually due to increased pressure inside the eye. Research has shown that people with diabetes are nearly twice as likely to develop glaucoma compared to those without diabetes.

Diabetes can affect the eye’s blood vessels and fluid drainage system, making it more difficult for fluid to flow out of the eye properly. When this fluid builds up, eye pressure increases, placing stress on the optic nerve. Over time, this damage can lead to vision loss, often without noticeable symptoms in the early stages.

Additionally, prolonged high blood sugar levels can weaken blood vessels that supply the optic nerve, further increasing vulnerability to glaucoma-related damage.

Why Glaucoma Is Especially Concerning for People With Diabetes

One of the most serious challenges with glaucoma is that it often develops without pain or obvious vision changes. Peripheral vision is typically affected first, and many people don’t realize there is a problem until significant damage has already occurred.

For individuals with diabetes, this risk is compounded. Diabetes already places stress on the eyes, and having multiple risk factors at once increases the likelihood of vision complications. This makes early detection and routine monitoring especially important.

The Importance of Routine Diabetic Eye Exams

Diabetic eye exams are a critical part of protecting your vision. These comprehensive exams go beyond checking your eyesight. During a diabetic eye exam, your eye doctor evaluates eye pressure, examines the optic nerve, and looks for early signs of glaucoma and other diabetes-related eye conditions.

Even if your vision seems fine, glaucoma and other eye diseases can still be developing. Annual diabetic eye exams allow your eye care provider to detect subtle changes early, when treatment is most effective at slowing or preventing vision loss.

Managing Your Risk

While you can’t change the fact that you have diabetes, you can take steps to lower your risk of developing glaucoma and other eye conditions. Maintaining healthy blood sugar levels, managing blood pressure, and following your doctor’s recommendations all support better eye health. Most importantly, staying consistent with regular eye exams ensures that any issues are caught as early as possible.

Stay Ahead of Diabetic-Related Eye Conditions with Complete Eyecare

Diabetes does increase your risk of developing glaucoma, but early detection can make a significant difference in preserving your vision. Because glaucoma often shows no early symptoms, regular diabetic eye exams are one of the most powerful tools for protecting your eyesight. Monitoring eye pressure and optic nerve health allows problems to be addressed before irreversible damage occurs.

If you have diabetes, don’t wait for vision problems to appear. Schedule a diabetic eye exam at Complete Eyecare to detect eye conditions early. Visit our office in Blaine, Minnesota, or call (763) 220-2602 to book an appointment today.