“Can diabetes cause reading difficulties?”
My mother is 60 years old and is heavily diabetic. She has had both eyes corrected for vision and was reading without any glasses. However, off late she has been finding it difficult to read. Could diabetes be the reason for this or is it something else?
9 Answers
Diabetes causes damage to your eyes especially to the vessels that supply blood to the back of the eye, retina. If your vision is fluctuating a complete ophthalmologic exam should be performed to rule out diabetic retinopathy.
Diabetes can cause retinopathy and cataracts. See an ophthalmologist.
Given that your Mom is a long term Diabetic and 60 Years old, there are many things that come to mind to cause decreased abilities to read. The first is that despite having Refractive Surgery so she did not have to wear glasses she may need glasses for upclose due to her lens becoming more rigid and not providing enough magnification to allow comfortable reading. This is easily diagnosed and treated by testing reading glasses sold at most drugstores for less than ten dollars.
Another possible diagnosis is of cataract formation that may have clouded her vision and caused her difficulty in reading. Diabetes may accelerate the development of cataracts and cause a central Posterior SubCapsular cataract which is especially bothersome when reading. Because this cataract frequently blurs the very center of the pupil it causes distortions and deminished acuity up close. Because when looking up close, the pupil constricts allowing only rays coming from the center to pass through the pupil and the center is the most clouded portion of this type of cataract.
Another disorder found frequently in type 2 Diabetics is the presence of Diabetic Macula Edema. This blurring is due to the presence of fluid within the layers of the central retina causing the patient to have reduced central vision.
A Fourth reason may be often presence of Diabetic Retinopathy which occurs in one third of Diabetics and can be vision threatening in one third of those with Diabetic Retinopathy.
This would require intravitreal injection or Argon Green Laser to a significant portion of the retina.
An examination must be done as soon as possible by a qualified Ophthalmologist or retinal specialist. If vision threatening Diabetic Retinopathy exists then treatment should take place ASAP.
Roger Ohanesian MD
Harvard Eye Associates
Another possible diagnosis is of cataract formation that may have clouded her vision and caused her difficulty in reading. Diabetes may accelerate the development of cataracts and cause a central Posterior SubCapsular cataract which is especially bothersome when reading. Because this cataract frequently blurs the very center of the pupil it causes distortions and deminished acuity up close. Because when looking up close, the pupil constricts allowing only rays coming from the center to pass through the pupil and the center is the most clouded portion of this type of cataract.
Another disorder found frequently in type 2 Diabetics is the presence of Diabetic Macula Edema. This blurring is due to the presence of fluid within the layers of the central retina causing the patient to have reduced central vision.
A Fourth reason may be often presence of Diabetic Retinopathy which occurs in one third of Diabetics and can be vision threatening in one third of those with Diabetic Retinopathy.
This would require intravitreal injection or Argon Green Laser to a significant portion of the retina.
An examination must be done as soon as possible by a qualified Ophthalmologist or retinal specialist. If vision threatening Diabetic Retinopathy exists then treatment should take place ASAP.
Roger Ohanesian MD
Harvard Eye Associates
If the diabetes goes out of control, she may develop macular edema which is causing farsidedness, which means she cannot see at near.
The answer in general is yes, but your Q is so general, I suggest you take your mother to an ophthalmologist for evaluation.
Yes. This could be a sign of early cataract, or diabetic retinopathy. She should have a refraction, hemoglobin A1c test and a dliated eye exam by an ophthalmologist. Most diabetic eye conditions can be resolved if diagnosed and treated early by an ophthalmologist.
Yes, many reasons including high sugars in the blood, cataract formation and retinal swelling. Very important for her to take her medications, see her physician regularly and see an ophthalmologist for eye examination once a year
It is common for diabetics to develop diabetic macular edema which can reduce vision. She may also have a cataract that progresses more rapidly in diabetics. She needs to see an optometrist or ophthalmologist annually.
It is possible it could be diabetes if her sugars are poorly controlled. More likely it is presbyopia which is normal and requires reading glasses. It could also be dryness. Being diabetics she should definitely go for yearly eye exams
