A closer look at the link between diabetes and your eyes

Posted on June 4, 2026 in Healthy You

When you think about diabetes, blood sugar is probably the first thing that comes to mind. But diabetes can have a serious impact on your eye health, too. In fact, an eye specialist may be able to spot early signs of diabetes-related damage before you notice any vision changes.

Defining diabetic eye disease

Diabetes impacts your body’s ability to regulate blood sugar. Over time, high blood sugar can damage the tiny blood vessels throughout your body, including those in your eyes.

This damage can lead to a group of vision conditions known as diabetic eye disease, including:

• Diabetic retinopathy: The most common diabetic eye condition,¹ diabetic retinopathy is caused by damage to the retina’s blood vessels and a leading cause of blindness in adults.²
• Cataracts: People with diabetes are more likely to develop cataracts earlier, which cause cloudy or blurred vision.
• Glaucoma: Diabetes can increase pressure in the eye, damaging the optic nerve and affecting vision.

These conditions often develop slowly and may not cause noticeable symptoms right away, making them difficult to catch early if you don’t regularly see an eye specialist.

Eye exams matter, especially with diabetes

During a comprehensive eye exam, your eye specialist can examine your blood vessels in your retina that reflect what’s happening throughout your body.

That’s why eye exams are so important for people with diabetes. Many diabetes-related eye conditions have no early warning signs, meaning you could have damage without realizing it. A dilated eye exam allows your provider to see the back of your eye more clearly and detect issues early.

Experts recommend that people with diabetes schedule a comprehensive eye exam at least once a year.³ Early detection can help slow or even prevent vision loss.

Warning signs of diabetic eye disease

Although early stages of diabetic eye disease may not cause symptoms, the signs below warrant a call to your eye specialist:

• Blurry vision
• Floaters or dark spots
• Flashes of light
• Difficulty seeing colors or at night
• Wavy or distorted vision^2,4

If you notice any of these changes, schedule an eye exam as soon as possible.

How to protect your vision when you have diabetes

The good news is that many diabetes-related eye problems are preventable or manageable with the right care.

First and foremost: Manage your blood sugar. Keeping your levels within target range is the most important way to protect your eyes. Keeping other areas of your overall health, such as your cholesterol, in a healthy range also protects your vision.

Lifestyle factors like eating a nutritious diet, staying active and avoiding smoking can lower your risk of vision problems. And don’t forget to keep your comprehensive eye exam on the calendar every year. Annual eye exams help catch problems early, when treatment is typically most effective and least costly.

A vision provider is an important part of your diabetes care team

If you have diabetes, you need an eye specialist on your diabetes care team. You can easily find an in-network DeltaVision® provider using our online Find a Provider tool and schedule your eye exam today.

Diabetes and eye health are closely connected, but vision loss doesn’t have to be inevitable. With regular eye exams and good diabetes management, you can protect your sight for the long term.

REFERENCES:

1. Harvard Medical School
2. National Library of Medicine
3. American Diabetes Association
4. American Academy of Ophthalmology