Every November, the American Academy of Ophthalmology highlights Diabetes-Related Eye Disease Awareness Month—a critically important campaign that shines a spotlight on how diabetes affects vision and how early detection can make a huge difference.
Why this matters
If you live with diabetes, have prediabetes, or even simply want to look out for loved ones, the stakes are high. Diabetes places people at significantly elevated risk for serious eye conditions. For example, individuals with diabetes are 2–5 times more likely to develop cataracts and nearly twice as likely to develop forms of glaucoma compared to people without diabetes. Likewise, the damage to the retina seen in conditions like Diabetic Retinopathy (DR) is a leading cause of blindness among U.S. adults. What’s especially concerning is that many of these changes start quietly, without any obvious symptoms—so “I feel fine” often doesn’t mean “everything is fine.”
What to know about key conditions
Diabetic Retinopathy
This is the condition most commonly associated with diabetes and the eye. High blood glucose levels over time damage small blood vessels in the retina, leading to leaking, blockage, or abnormal new vessels. The good news: with early detection and timely treatment, vision loss can often be prevented—up to 95% reduction in severe vision loss is possible.
Glaucoma
People with diabetes have a higher risk of developing glaucoma—especially open-angle glaucoma—where increased pressure (or impaired drainage) damages the optic nerve and starts to gradually steal vision, beginning in the periphery and working centrally. Regular dilated exam and monitoring of intraocular pressure (as well as optic nerve appearance) are essential.
Cataracts
Cataracts—clouding of the eye’s natural lens—occur at younger ages and progress faster in people with diabetes. Treatment often involves surgical removal of the cloudy lens and replacement with a clear artificial one, but the sooner you detect changes, the better you and your eye-care team can plan.
Neurotrophic Keratitis
This one is less talked about but very important. In diabetes, nerve damage happens everywhere in the body—corneal nerves and ocular-surface nerves can suffer too. When the cornea loses sensation (from diabetic neuropathy of the eye), the risk of corneal defects, slow healing, and even ulcers increases. This condition—Neurotrophic Keratitis—is one of the “silent” complications because the usual warning pain may not occur. Early detection and intervention are key.
The power of early detection
One of the central messages of this awareness campaign: the earlier you catch these changes, the better your outcomes. Regular comprehensive dilated eye exams—including evaluation of the retina, optic nerve, cornea and lens—are critical. Again, the NEI reports that with appropriate early detection and treatment, the risk of severe vision loss from diabetic retinopathy can be reduced by 95%. In addition, controlling underlying factors—such as blood sugar (HbA1c), blood pressure, and lipid levels—makes a measurable difference.
What you can do
- If you have diabetes, commit to at least one dilated eye exam a year (or more often if your eye-care provider recommends it).
- Talk to your ophthalmologist/optometrist about the full spectrum of diabetes-related eye risks—not just retina health but also cornea, optic nerve, and lens changes.
- Work closely with your medical team to keep blood sugar, blood pressure and cholesterol controlled.
- Don’t wait for symptoms—by the time you notice vision changes, some irreversible damage may already have occurred.
- Spread the word in November: help friends/family with diabetes understand these risks and the value of annual eye-health checks.
In summary
November’s focus on Diabetes-Related Eye Disease is more than just a reminder—it’s a prompt to act. With conditions like diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, cataracts and neurotrophic keratitis all part of the spectrum of risks in people with diabetes, the message is clear: early detection + timely treatment = far better outcomes. The AAO and its partners emphasize that vision loss from these diseases is not inevitable—if we catch things early, many complications can be prevented or managed effectively. Let this month be the time to schedule that exam, talk to your eye-care professional, and stay committed to protecting your sight.