What Signs Does Diabetic Eye Disease Exhibit?

At Morillo Eye Center, we educate patients on how diabetes can affect the eyes and why early detection is key to preventing long-term vision loss. Diabetic eye disease includes several conditions, such as diabetic retinopathy, diabetic macular edema, cataracts, and glaucoma. Understanding the warning signs is essential for protecting your sight.
 

Understanding Diabetic Eye Disease: Why It Can Be Silent

One of the most concerning aspects of diabetic eye disease is that it often develops without noticeable symptoms. High blood sugar levels can damage the tiny blood vessels in the retina slowly over time. Because this damage is gradual and painless, many people don’t realize anything is wrong until the condition has advanced.

This is why regular diabetic eye exams are so important. A diabetic eye exam allows your eye doctor to detect early changes inside the eye long before you experience vision problems. Early diagnosis gives you the best chance of preserving your sight.
 

Why Early Detection Makes a Difference

Diabetic eye disease is one of the leading causes of blindness in adults, yet it is highly manageable and often preventable when caught early. Regular diabetic eye exams allow our eye doctors to:

• Identify early retinal changes

• Monitor blood vessel health

• Detect swelling before it affects vision

• Track progression over time

• Recommend treatment before vision loss occurs

Managing your blood sugar, blood pressure, and cholesterol significantly reduces your risk, but routine eye care is still your strongest defense.
 

Common Signs and Symptoms of Diabetic Eye Disease

Although diabetic eye conditions can be silent at first, symptoms may develop as the disease progresses. Some of the most common include:

• Blurred or Fluctuating Vision: High blood sugar can temporarily change the shape of your eye’s lens, leading to shifts in clarity. Persistent or worsening blurry vision may signal diabetic retinopathy or macular edema.

• Dark Spots or “Floaters”: Seeing floating spots, cobweb-like shadows, or streaks of black can indicate bleeding in the retina. This is often a sign of proliferative diabetic retinopathy, where abnormal blood vessels begin to grow and leak.

• Trouble Seeing at Night: Difficulty adjusting to low light is common in people experiencing early retinal damage from diabetes.

• Faded or Washed-Out Colors: Damage to the retina can affect color perception, causing colors to appear dull or less vibrant.

• Areas of Vision Loss: If parts of your vision seem missing or shadowed, this can be a sign of retinal swelling or bleeding.

• Sudden Vision Loss: A rapid loss of vision is a medical emergency and may indicate a retinal detachment or severe bleeding inside the eye (vitreous hemorrhage). Seek immediate care if this occurs.
 

Schedule Your Diabetic Eye Exam Today

Diabetic eye disease can be silent, but its effects can be life changing. Understanding the signs and recognizing that symptoms may not appear until later highlights the importance of preventive care.

If you have diabetes, don’t wait for symptoms to appear. Schedule a diabetic eye exam at Morillo Eye Center and safeguard your vision for the future. Visit our office in Union City, Passaic, Hackensack, or Newark, New Jersey. Please call (201) 867-0199, (973) 777-7600, (201) 242-8785 or (973) 624-2090 to book an appointment today.