07 Aug Are People With Diabetes at Higher Risk for Glaucoma?
If you are managing diabetes, you already know the drill: check your blood sugar, watch your diet, keep up with your appointments. The annual diabetic eye exam is on that list for a reason, and it is not just about checking for diabetic retinopathy. Diabetes and glaucoma are two different conditions, but research has connected them in ways worth understanding, especially since both can progress without warning signs.
How Diabetes and Glaucoma Are Different but Related Conditions
Diabetes is a systemic condition that affects how your body regulates blood sugar. Over time, elevated blood sugar can damage blood vessels throughout the body, including the delicate vessels in the retina – the condition known as diabetic retinopathy. Glaucoma, on the other hand, refers to a group of eye conditions that damage the optic nerve, the cable that carries visual information from your eye to your brain. Glaucoma is often, though not always, associated with elevated pressure inside the eye.
These are two distinct diagnoses with different mechanisms, but they are not unrelated. Research shows that people with diabetes, particularly type 2 diabetes, face a meaningfully higher likelihood of developing certain forms of glaucoma compared to people without diabetes. For a deeper look at how glaucoma develops on its own, see What Is Glaucoma and Who Is at Risk.
Why Diabetes Increases Certain Glaucoma Risk Factors
There are a few ways diabetes can raise glaucoma risk. Chronic high blood sugar can affect the tiny drainage structures inside the eye that regulate internal eye pressure, as well as blood flow to the optic nerve itself – both of which play a role in open-angle glaucoma, the most common form of the disease.
There is also a more direct connection for patients with advanced, longstanding diabetic retinopathy. In severe cases, the retina can respond to poor blood flow by growing abnormal new blood vessels. If those vessels grow into the eye’s drainage angle, they can physically block the fluid that normally flows out of the eye, leading to a more aggressive condition called neovascular glaucoma. This is a complication of advanced diabetic eye disease rather than something every person with diabetes will experience, but it underscores why ongoing monitoring matters at every stage.
Symptoms to Watch for With Each Condition
This is where things get tricky: both conditions are frequently silent in their early stages.
Early diabetic retinopathy often has no noticeable symptoms at all. As it progresses, it can bring blurry or fluctuating vision, dark spots, or new floaters.
Open-angle glaucoma, the most common type, typically causes no early symptoms either. Peripheral vision loss happens so gradually that many people do not notice it until meaningful damage has already occurred.
Neovascular or acute forms of glaucoma are the exception and can cause eye pain, redness, blurred vision, or headaches. These symptoms call for prompt attention.
The takeaway is the same for both conditions: waiting for symptoms is not a reliable strategy when the disease itself often does not produce any warning signs until real damage has already happened.
Why Comprehensive Monitoring Matters for Diabetic Patients
Because diabetes raises the risk for both retinopathy and certain types of glaucoma, and because both conditions can progress quietly, a basic vision screening is not enough for patients managing diabetes. The American Optometric Association recommends a comprehensive dilated eye exam at least once a year for people with diabetes. Consistent monitoring builds a baseline over time, which makes it far easier to spot small changes before they become significant ones. For more on how this visit differs from a standard checkup, see What Makes Diabetic Eye Exams Different From Routine Eye Exams.
What a Combined Diabetic and Glaucoma Screening Looks Like
A thorough visit typically includes a visual acuity check, an eye pressure reading using our Icare tonometer (which measures pressure without the traditional puff of air), a careful evaluation of the optic nerve, and imaging of the retina using either dilation or our Optomap retinal camera. Depending on your history, visual field testing may also be part of the visit. Findings can be shared with your primary care physician or endocrinologist, keeping your whole care team informed. Learn more about our diabetic eye exam services.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does having diabetes mean I will definitely get glaucoma?
No. Diabetes raises the risk, but it does not make glaucoma inevitable. Regular monitoring is how we catch it early if it does develop.
How often should someone with diabetes get their eyes checked?
Most guidelines call for a comprehensive dilated eye exam at least once a year, though your eye doctor may recommend more frequent visits depending on your individual health history.
Can glaucoma be reversed once it develops?
Vision already lost to glaucoma cannot be restored, which is exactly why early detection and ongoing management of eye pressure are so important.
Schedule Your Diabetic Eye Exam at Total EyeCare in Billings
Ready to take the next step? Schedule your annual diabetic eye exam today at totaleyecarebillings.com and ask about comprehensive glaucoma screening as part of your visit.