Childhood diabetes or juvenile diabetes develops when the body could not produce insulin which is needed so that the glucose in the blood can reach the cells. If there is lack of insulin, glucose stays in the blood, thus resulting to high blood sugar that can lead to serious health issues in the long run. Juvenile diabetes or type-1 diabetes can lead to the development of eye symptoms in many children. Being familiar with these symptoms can help with the early detection of diabetes.
Fluctuating vision
Children who have diabetes as well as adults might notice that their vision starts to blur and clears at different points throughout the day. This indication of diabetes is linked to the natural lens that is positioned within the eye right behind the iris. In case a diabetic suffers from high blood sugar, the body will accumulate fluid from the natural lens. As an outcome, the lens change shape and cause light to enter the eye in a different manner, resulting to vision changes. When the blood glucose level returns to normal, the normal amount of fluid returns to the lens and the vision will return to normal.
Parents must note that if a child starts to complain of blurred vision that comes and goes, this does not necessarily indicate that the child has diabetes. A child with these symptoms must undergo eye examination so that the doctor can rule out eye issues as well as diabetes.
Floaters
If the high blood glucose level persists, it can eventually damage the retina. As a consequence, abnormal blood vessels will grow on the retina which called as diabetic retinopathy. Take note that these vessels often seep and cause the retina to swell and some amount of fluid will even leak into the vitreous. The leakage can lead to dark spots or floaters that can appear sporadically or fill most of the vision.
The child can also complain of floaters or might mention black-colored spots on his/her vision. Always bear in mind that these symptoms require immediate assessment by a doctor in order to determine the suitable treatment. In most cases, the doctor might utilize laser treatment to put a stop to the leaking vessels. After some time, these dark spots can vanish but severe cases might require replacement of the vitreous fluid with saline to help clear up the vision.
Loss of vision
When it comes to diabetic retinopathy, it can cause significant loss of vision, especially in cases in which the swelling affects the macula. Macular swelling can lead to difficulty while reading or face recognition as well as other daily tasks. After the laser treatments, some individuals have restoration of full vision but some end up with permanent damage.
If a child has undiagnosed diabetic retinopathy, he/she can suffer from continuous worsening of vision and can eventually lead to blindness. In case the child complains of changes in the vision, it is vital to set an appointment with a doctor to ensure the health of the eyes.