People living with diabetes are at greater risk of vision problems, but managing glucose levels and having regular eye checks can prevent or catch problems early. NATALIE ESCOBAR explains how you can protect your vision. 

It is estimated that out of the 1.3 million Australians living with diabetes, 300,000 have some degree of diabetic retinopathy, a complication that can lead to serious issues with vision. Of those affected, around 20% are at risk of losing their sight.  

How does diabetes impact eye health? 

Diabetes can damage blood vessels throughout the body, including the small vessels in the eyes. Glucose levels can weaken or block these vessels, causing them to leak, swell or stop supplying enough oxygen to the retina, which is the light-sensitive layer of tissue at the back of the eye.  

The most common eye issues people with diabetes can develop include: 

Diabetic retinopathy, where damaged vessels affect how the retina works, causing blurry and distorted vision, spots, vision floaters and potentially vision loss 

Diabetic macular oedema, which can cause fluid to leak and swell the macula, the part of the retina responsible for central vision. 

Optometrist Dr Pricilla Ho, who is undertaking training to become a credentialled diabetes educator, says issues can start with small bleeds in the eyes. 

“Early diabetic retinopathy often has no symptoms,” Dr Ho says. “If the bleeds happen around your central area of vision, that is when you can notice vision changes with blurry vision, distortion or having splatters in your vision.” 

People with diabetes are also at a higher risk of developing cataracts earlier and more quickly, with the lens of the eye becoming white and cloudy over time, as well as glaucoma, in which increased pressure in the eye damages the optic nerve, causing reduced peripheral vision. 

Dr Ho notes that when blood glucose levels are high, early signs of diabetes-related eye problems are often subtle. “One lesser-known thing is that diabetes can cause temporary changes in your glasses prescription, resulting in blurry, fluctuating vision.” 

What are the signs of diabetes-related eye problems?  

• Spots or floaters 

• Blurred vision 

• Changes in vision 

• Dark or empty areas in their vision 

• Vision loss 

• Trouble seeing at night 

• Dry eyes. 

It’s recommended that people living with diabetes regularly check for these signs and consult a professional if they notice any eye changes.  

Why do regular eye checks matter? 

For people with diabetes, regular eye exams are important to detect early signs of eye damage.  

It is recommended that people living with diabetes have a comprehensive eye exam at least every two years. Talk to your optometrist about how often you need to get a check. Some people may be referred to a specialist such as an ophthalmologist. 

Delaying an eye exam can mean that if a problem is caught too late, treatment will be more complicated and less likely to restore vision. Regular eye checks are also an opportunity to learn more about eye care. 

“Our goal is to pick up any eye changes early so we can share this information with your GP or diabetes care team,” Dr Ho says. “This can help guide a review of your diabetes management, supporting blood glucose levels within your individual target range.” 

What can you expect in a diabetes eye exam? 

If you’re familiar with a regular eye test, a comprehensive diabetes test will be very similar. However, the optometrist or ophthalmologist will insert dilating eye drops. These drops enlarge your pupils, allowing for a more thorough examination of the inside of the eye and helping determine whether more urgent care is needed.  

“We do some imaging of the retina, where we take a picture of the back of the eyes so we can see all the blood vessels,” Dr Ho says. “It’s also good to have a baseline of what these look like, because small subtle blood vessel changes might be hard to pick up over time without having a photo reference. We also do an OCT scan (optical coherence tomography), which looks at all the layers underneath the retina.”  

Dr Ho’s tips for eye care  

• Get a dilated eye exam every 12-24 months. 

• If you notice vision changes, get an eye test. 

• Manage glucose levels and other aspects of your health including blood pressure and cholesterol. 

• Wear sunglasses for UV protection (Category three is recommended.) 

• Remember the 20/20/20 rule with screens (every 20 minutes, try to look 20 feet away for 20 seconds).  

Eye tests can be done without a GP referral and, depending on where you go, can either be bulk-billed or attract a small fee. Commonly, scans of the eyes incur an extra cost. If you need to see a specialist, private health insurance may help cover extra treatment costs, depending on your policy.  

If you need a yearly reminder, you can sign up for KeepSight, a free national diabetes eye check reminder program, delivered by Diabetes Australia, that makes it easier to take care of your eye health (keepsight.org.au.) 

Would you like to learn more about living well with diabetes? 

Just been diagnosed with diabetes?

Have a question about medication or diabetes management?

Want some support to get on track for the new year?

As part of your NDSS registration you are entitled to attend Diabetes WA’s workshops for free.

Our 2026 workshop calendar is available here to download.

If you have questions or concerns about diabetes, for yourself or someone else, you can also book an appointment with a diabetes educators online or at one of our clinics or call our free Diabetes WA helpline on 1300 001 880 (Monday to Friday, 8:30am–4:30pm) to speak with a caring, experienced diabetes health professional.

You can also send your query by email to info@diabeteswa.com.au if you prefer to write to us.