I Have Diabetes. How Can I Reduce My Risk of Developing Glaucoma?

During National Diabetes Month this November, a lot of people will turn their attention directly to the root cause of diabetes: blood sugar problems. But we think it’s important to spread awareness about not just diabetes, but other health issues this condition can cause. 

Take, for example, eye problems. If you have diabetes, your risk of developing glaucoma doubles. And since this eye condition is a leading cause of vision impairment, it’s key that people with diabetes know how to defend against glaucoma so they can protect their ability to see. 

As a specialist in eye diseases like glaucoma, Edwin Y. Endo, OD & Associates doesn’t just offer treatment if this condition develops. We can also apply our eye health expertise to help you be proactive about preventing this top cause of vision loss. 

Visit Dr. Endo and our team in Aiea, Hawaii, if you have diabetes. We can work with you on a personalized glaucoma prevention plan. 

The link between diabetes and glaucoma

Glaucoma is a condition that develops when something damages the optic nerve that sends signals to your brain, allowing you to see. In its early stages, glaucoma usually doesn’t cause symptoms. As it progresses, you might notice that you lose peripheral vision. Left unchecked, it can lead to blindness. 

If you have diabetes, your persistently high blood sugar levels can damage your eye. Since your diabetes diagnosis makes you more likely to develop glaucoma, it’s important to see your eye doctor regularly. Here at our office, Dr. Endo can check your eyes for this problem.

This is particularly important because the National Eye Institute estimates that more than 2 million Americans have glaucoma but don’t know it yet.

Glaucoma can usually be managed to slow its progression. But today, no treatment exists to reverse any glaucoma-caused vision loss. As a result, early detection is critical to protect your ability to see clearly. 

Glaucoma prevention tips

You can do a few things to help lower your risk of glaucoma and the possibility of it causing blindness:

• Adopt eye-healthy habits like a good diet and regular exercise
• Find out if you have a family history of glaucoma and tell your eye doctor
• Avoid smoking
• Get a comprehensive dilated eye exam on the schedule Dr. Endo recommends

That last one is especially important. By regularly evaluating your eyes, Dr. Endo can check your optic nerve and see if anything is negatively affecting it. Usually, he and other experts recommend glaucoma screening every year or as often as every six months for people with diabetes. 

If you have diabetes and you haven’t been screened recently for glaucoma, don't wait to visit Dr. Endo. Call us or book an appointment online today.