Diabetes and Vision
The image shows the word diabetes on a layer of sugar. The “s” is on a spoon of sugar.
The American Jazz singer, Ella Fitzgerald, perhaps known best for the song “Summertime”, developed severe vision loss through her 50s and 60s. Her distinguished career saw her win 13 Grammys, a National Medal of Arts, receive 2 honorary doctorates from Yale and Dartmouth and be crowned the “Queen of Jazz”. Towards the end of her life, she declared: “I just want to smell the air, listen to the birds and hear Alice [her granddaughter] laugh,”
“Lady Ella” had type 2 diabetes which greatly affected her life. In addition to visual impairment, she had vascular problems, heart failure and a leg amputation. Her vision loss was the result of diabetic retinopathy (DR). Diabetic retinopathy does not necessarily lead to visual impairment, but it is the most common cause of blindness among people aged 20-74 years old. With an estimated 27% of diabetics having diabetic retinopathy, and most developing some form of it across their lifetime, the conversation about diabetes and vision is a very important one.
During the first two decades of the disease, nearly all patients with type 1 diabetes and >60% of patients with type 2 diabetes have retinopathy. But vision loss occurs as the result of multiple mechanisms and it’s possible to develop different types of VI. Sometimes vision develops from damaged blood vessels behind the retina which leads to tractional retinal detachment. In other instances, central vision may be impaired by macular edema. People can also develop neovascular glaucoma when abnormal blood vessels grow out of the retina and block fluid from draining out of the eye. But what can you do about it?
If you’re diabetic, it’s essential to take the right steps to manage your diabetes, blood pressure and cholesterol and reduce the risk of developing DR. Whilst some people notice changes in their vision and have trouble seeing things that are far away, or reading, these changes may come and go. So, you should also make sure you’re getting regular eye exams. Early diagnosis and treatment can prevent the deterioration of your vision. Managing your diabetes is the best way to prevent vision loss. If you don’t catch DR early and your vision has deteriorated a bit, there are still plenty of treatments in the later stages such as injections, surgery, and laser treatment. Treatments for DR are always evolving, with researchers looking into the effectiveness of other existing medicines, as well as other avenues.
One of the comforts of being born in such a time of innovation in medicine and technology is that our independence is always being boosted by new developments. As sight loss takes effect we can also look to the past and inspirational examples like Ella Fitzgerald, who adapted to enjoy her other senses and the beauty she could perceive all around her.