DM eye disease
Last edited 03/2018 and last reviewed 11/2020
Diabetic eye disease is the leading cause of blindness in people aged 20-65 years of age in the UK.
The main causes of diabetic eye disease are:
- diabetic retinopathy
- diabetic cataract
Diabetes is also a risk factor glaucoma.
About 30% of patients will have ocular problems at the time of diagnosis of diabetes. Myopia may be present as a result of an increased refractive index of the lens. This increased refractive index may be the result of dehydration and may resolve with diabetic treatment.