Diabetes and glaucoma

Glaucoma can lead to a gradual loss of sight and eventual blindness.

People with diabetes are twice as likely to get glaucoma as those who don’t have diabetes.¹

Having regular check-ups with your optometrist allows for early detection, which can lead to treatments that slow down the progression of glaucoma.

Glaucoma is an umbrella term of several eye conditions. It can be caused by increased pressure in the eye due to fluid build-up, blockage of the eye’s drainage system or optic nerve damage. All causes can have the same outcome of gradual loss of sight, which, if not managed, can lead to blindness.

One in 50 Aussies will develop glaucoma and risk increases if you have a close family member with the condition.²

Damage to the optic nerve starts to impact peripheral vision very gradually, meaning people can have glaucoma for some time before they start to notice any symptoms.

There's no cure for glaucoma, and any vision loss as a result is irreversible.

Once detected, glaucoma may be slowed with treatments that may help prevent further vision loss and blindness.

Because glaucoma causes peripheral vision loss, in its early stages, it can be hard to see any difference. Your eyes and remaining vision will compensate, and so you can have glaucoma without knowing it.

This is why regular eye exams with your optometrist are so important. Optometrists can see and test for changes in the eyes that indicate glaucoma and refer you for treatment.

There are different types of glaucoma and they have different symptoms.

The most common is primary open-angle glaucoma which often has no symptoms until the optic nerve has been seriously damaged. Some people with open-angle glaucoma may see blind spots at the edge of their vision, which increase over time.

Chronic angle-closure glaucoma also has very few symptoms, although some people may start to see halos around lights.

Acute angle-closure glaucoma can have symptoms including:³

• blurred vision
• headaches
• watery eyes
• sudden eye pain
• nausea and vomiting
• halos.

If you have diabetes it is important to manage your condition to reduce your risk of developing glaucoma. Speak to your doctor about how to manage your diabetes.

Having regular eye exams with your optometrist will increase the chance of early detection. It’s recommended people with diabetes see an optometrist every one to two years, or as soon as you notice any change in your vision. The sooner glaucoma is detected and treated the less likely severe vision loss and blindness will occur. If left untreated, glaucoma can cause irreversible damage to the eye, resulting in permanent vision loss.

Support good eye health by not smoking, exercising regularly and eating a well-balanced diet. Manage your diabetes with lifestyle and medication as instructed by your doctor and see an optometrist regularly for essential eye checks.