A new study shows that people with diabetes experience several vision problems more frequently than those without diabetes. Diabetes is a major contributor to low vision and blindness. The incidence of diabetes is increasing each year in America. Researchers estimate that 11% of adults with diabetes have some type of visual impairment.
Diabetic retinopathy is the most common eye-related complication of diabetes. This damage to the retina is a leading cause of low vision and blindness. People with diabetes are also susceptible to cataracts, glaucoma, and abnormally shaped corneas. Additionally, researchers at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that people with diabetes had higher incidences of uncorrectable vision problems. The investigators advocate that vision services need to be accessible to all people to help prevent and correct visual impairments.