Why Do Vision Problems Come And Go With Diabetes?

It is no big secret that diabetes can have a detrimental effect on the eyes, but what many people do not know is those vision problems caused by the disease are not always permanent. In fact, they oftentimes come and go, which can make eye conditions even harder to diagnose as diabetes-related. If you have been diagnosed with diabetes and are having issues with vision issues that come and go, you will likely want to know why this is the case. Here are a few things to know. 

Blood sugar affects your ability to see clearly. 

If you have uncontrolled blood sugar levels, you can have intermittent vision problems because your eyes are constantly having to adjust. You may have blurry vision when your blood glucose levels are high, and you may see more clearly when they drop down to normal ranges. This is especially an issue for people who have blood sugar levels that stay high for a while and then they get them under control. For example, if someone is having high levels for several months, their vision may be worse during that time than what it is when they eventually get things back under control. 

Diabetes can change the pressure on the optic nerve. 

When fluid in the eye cannot drain as it is supposed to, it can lead to undue pressure on the eye and changes in the blood vessels. It is possible that people with diabetes have intermittent problems with pressure buildup in the eye, which can mean the vision can seem worse at some times than what it is at others. This is one reason why people with the disease are prone for the development of glaucoma later in life. 

Floaters can be the result of having diabetes. 

Floaters are small strings of visual disturbances in the field of vision, and they kind of change positions when your eye does, which means they can be hard to get a good look at from your own perspective. They appear to be a solid mass when you see them, but they are actually leaked blood that has not drained through the eye properly. These floaters can show up out of nowhere, but they can also go away on their own. Therefore, if you have a floater for a while that is making it harder for you to see clearly, it can go away eventually and you will see a bit better. 

To learn more, contact your eye doctor.


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