Diabetic Vision Problems in Older Adults

Your loved one’s vision is precious. Not only does healthy eyesight allow them to enjoy their daily activities, it also helps preserve their safety and independence. Unfortunately, diabetic retinopathy, cataracts and glaucoma are common complications in older adults with diabetes.¹

You need to know that:

• Diabetic retinopathy, which is caused by damage to the blood vessels of the retina, is more likely to develop in individuals with high blood pressure and a history of poorly controlled blood glucose that spans six or more years.²
  
  
• Cataracts can be identified by the cloudy or opaque areas they produce in the lens of the eye.
  
  
• Glaucoma is a group of disorders that cause fluid pressure to build in the eye. The increased pressure can damage the optic nerve, which carries visual information from the eye to the brain.

What a caregiver can do

Aside from the social implications, poor vision increases the risk of falling and makes it difficult for your family member to manage their diabetes. As a caregiver, you can help prevent vision problems by seeking early treatment for retinopathy and other diabetes-related vision conditions. Not only can immediate action prevent eye damage, it can also stop vision loss from getting worse.

Always keep in mind that:

• Individuals who have been newly diagnosed with diabetes should schedule a dilated-eye examination with a qualified eye doctor as soon as possible.
  
  
• Older adults who have lived with diabetes for years should still undergo a dilated eye exam every 1 to 2 years, depending upon their level of diabetes control and other vision risk factors.
  
  
• It’s important to obtain a referral for an ophthalmologist rather than an optometrist. An ophthalmologist has the tools and training necessary to identify early warning signs of diabetic retinopathy, and to provide effective treatment.
  
  
• Because high blood pressure can cause retinopathy, be sure to check your family member’s blood pressure regularly. If it becomes too high, ask your doctor for medication that can bring it down to a healthy level.
  
  
• Long term use of certain steroid medicines, including cortisone and prednisone, can increase the risk for cataracts and glaucoma. If your family member takes these types of medicines, ask your eye doctor how often vision check-ups should be scheduled — and make sure your loved one makes it to their appointments on a regular basis.