Diabetes is a leading cause of avoidable vision loss and can affect the eyes at any time. The risk of developing diabetes-related eye disease increases with the amount of time you have been living with diabetes, and the risk is greater if your blood glucose levels are often outside your target range.

Diabetes-related eye disease can be picked up in its early stages at a routine eye examination with your optometrist. Your optometrists can then work with your GP to manage the condition and, if necessary, refer you to an eye doctor (ophthalmologist) for treatment.   

Diabetes-related eye disease is most easily managed in its early stages, so early detection and routine eye examinations are very important when you live with diabetes. 

Common early signs

1. Blurry or fluctuating vision 
If you notice that things you could once see quite clearly are no longer easy to see, or if things are sometimes clear and at other times not clear, it may be a sign that changes are happening in the eye. 
 

2. Floaters 
Floaters often look like little black dots in your vision but can sometimes appear as black or grey lines or squiggles. Floaters are often a sign of normal change inside the eye. However, if you are noticing any new floating spots or have never had existing ones checked, it is important to discuss this with an optometrist. 
 

3.  Wavy areas of vision 
If you see lines that should be straight but are now looking wavy, or things have a distorted or fishbowl appearance, see your optometrist as soon as possible. 
 

4.  Colours appear washed out 
If colours start to look faded or washed out, it may be a sign of diabetes-related eye disease. 
 

5. Missing spots or dark patches in vision 
If you notice any missing dark spots or smudgy areas in the centre or on the edges of your vision, you must see an optometrist immediately. 

If you experience any of the above symptoms, book a diabetes eye examination with your optometrist as soon as possible. 
 
Even if you are not experiencing any unusual symptoms, it is still important that you have a general eye examination every 12 months or as directed by your optometrist. At this appointment, your optometrist will thoroughly examine the back of your eye and can detect very early signs of diabetes-related eye disease and monitor any changes from year to year. 

Need help remembering when your next eye appointment is due? Sign up to KeepSight and receive free reminders to book an eye health check with your local optometrist.  

By Eilish Devlin, Specsavers Optometrist