The Chronic Diseases Most Likely to Affect Your Vision | Chronic Disease Awareness Day

Depending on the severity, having a chronic disease can interfere with your employment, family responsibilities, and overall wellness.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention define a chronic disease as a condition that lasts 12 months or more and interferes with activities of daily living, and/or requires medical attention. 

There is no exact number of chronic diseases. However, their prevalence is widespread worldwide. According to the National Academy of Medicine, 6 in 10 people in the United States suffer from a chronic disease.

Some chronic diseases may also affect vision. July 10th is Chronic Disease Awareness Day, which highlights the significant impact of long-term diseases, including those that may affect vision.  

Continue reading for an examination of chronic diseases that may have the greatest impact on your eyes and vision and what you can do to prevent vision loss. 
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Why do chronic diseases affect the eyes? 

Various chronic diseases may damage the nerve tissues and blood vessels within your eyes. Due to this damage, vision changes can occur even before you notice symptoms. Additionally, because chronic diseases affect other parts of the body, the impact on vision may go unnoticed at first. Understanding the link between chronic diseases and your eyes can help you become proactive in protecting your vision. 

Chronic diseases that may affect vision

The following chronic diseases are linked to vision problems. 

Diabetes: Diabetes is one of the most common diseases associated with vision problems. Over time, high blood sugar levels can damage the blood vessels in the retina, leading to diabetic retinopathy. Diabetic retinopathy may not cause symptoms at first. However, eventually it can lead to floaters, blurred vision, and possibly even vision loss. 

Autoimmune diseases: An autoimmune disease causes the immune system to attack healthy tissues in the body. Examples of autoimmune diseases include lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, and Sjögren's syndrome. Because these conditions trigger an abnormal autoimmune response, they can affect the eyes in various ways, leading to decreased tear production, light sensitivity, and inflammation. 

Sleep apnea: Sleep apnea causes repeated pauses in breathing due to airway obstruction. This eventually increases the risk of high blood pressure and places additional strain on the heart. Having sleep apnea may increase the risk of some eye diseases. For example, according to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, some studies show an association between sleep apnea and an increased risk of glaucoma. More research is needed to determine a definitive link. 

Thyroid disease: Certain forms of thyroid disease can affect the eyes, especially Graves' disease. Graves' disease is a disease that attacks your thyroid gland. The condition leads to hyperthyroidism, which involves making too much thyroid hormone. According to the National Eye Institute, the most common vision symptom associated with Graves’ disease is bulging eyes. It can also lead to light sensitivity, double vision, and dry eyes.
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How can you protect your vision with a chronic disease? 

Fortunately, if you have a chronic disease linked to eye problems, there are things you can do to reduce your risk of eye complications. 

Manage your condition: The most important thing you can do to safeguard your vision is manage your chronic disease to reduce your risk of vision complications. This includes working with your primary health care provider or specialist to develop a treatment plan. 

Pay attention to lifestyle: Healthy lifestyle habits, including managing your blood pressure, eating a nutritious diet, exercising regularly, and avoiding smoking, all contribute to eye health. 

Get comprehensive eye exams: Preventing eye complications before they start is key when managing a chronic disease. Getting routine comprehensive eye exams as recommended by your eye care specialist is vital for detecting changes early.

If you have any questions about maintaining healthy eyes and vision with a chronic disease, we are happy to help. If you would like to schedule an eye appointment with one of our eye doctors, please call our office at 508-746-8600.