Glaucoma and Diabetes

Glaucoma is caused by excess fluid pressing on the nerve at the back of the eye

Glaucoma may occur amongst people with and without diabetes, and can be a complication of diabetes if retinopathy develops.

Glaucoma is caused by an excess amount of fluid pressing on the nerve at the back of the eye.

How does glaucoma start?

The eye produces a small amount of fluid like water in its middle chamber, which flows around the lens of the eye into the front chamber.

The fluid leaves the eye using a drainage network and then enters the bloodstream.

Commonly, glaucoma causes the drainage system to become blocked, and fluid becomes trapped in the eye. This causes pressure to build up in the eye and pass to the nerve at the rear of the eye.

This nerve may become damaged by glaucoma.

Is glaucoma linked with diabetes?

People with diabetic retinopathy have an increased risk of glaucoma.

This can happen if abnormal blood vessel growth, which can occur as a result of retinopathy, blocks the natural drainage of the eye.

What are the symptoms of glaucoma?

Glaucoma has very few symptoms in its early stage, so people may be unaware that something is wrong with them. As someone with diabetes, an optometrist or another eye specialist should test you for glaucoma at least once each year.

How is glaucoma diagnosed?

Glaucoma may be diagnosed by an optometrist by measuring your eye pressure, checking the eye at the optic nerve, and testing the field of your vision.

Experts will quickly be able to determine if you have glaucoma.

How is glaucoma treated?

Glaucoma is treated using beta blocker eye drops including betaxalol, teoptic (cartelol), or timolol.

The drops prevent more fluid being made.

Your healthcare professional will be able to advise you further on the most suitable drops for your condition.

What is the worst case scenario, will I go blind?

In developed stages of glaucoma, poor vision starts to spread, which can extend to include the whole of the sight.

If the pressure of glaucoma can be successfully eased, however, the condition should not deteriorate further.