Childhood diabetes, also known as juvenile diabetes or Type 1 diabetes, results when the body cannot make insulin, which each person requires so that the glucose in the blood will reach the cells. Without insulin, glucose remains in the blood, causing high blood sugars that may lead to serious health complications. Juvenile diabetes may cause eye symptoms in many children, and knowing these symptoms can help with early detection of diabetes.
Fluctuating Vision
Children with diabetes, as well as adults, may notice that their vision blurs and clears at various points throughout the day. This symptom of diabetes results from the natural lens that sits inside the eye, just behind the iris. If a diabetic experiences high blood sugar, the body will gather fluid from the natural lens, explains MayoClinic.com. As a result, the lens will change shape and cause light to enter the eye differently, causing vision changes. Once the blood glucose levels return to normal, the usual amount of fluid will return to the lens, and the vision will gradually return.
Parents should note that if a child complains of blurred vision that comes and goes, this does not necessarily mean a child has diabetes. A child with these symptoms should have an eye examination to rule out eye problems and an evaluation by the child's pediatrician to rule out diabetes or other conditions.
Floaters
Prolonged high blood glucose levels may eventually damage the retina, which is the back, inside lining of the eye. As a result, abnormal blood vessels may grow on the retina, a condition called diabetic retinopathy. These vessels often leak, causing the retina to swell, and some of the fluid may leak into the vitreous, the thick substance that fills the back chamber of the eye. This leaking may cause dark spots, called floaters, and the floaters could appear sporadically or they might fill most of a person's vision, states the National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse.
A child will often discuss the appearance of floaters, or she might mention black spots in her vision. These symptoms require a prompt evaluation by an eye care professional in order to determine any necessary treatment. Doctors use laser treatments to stop the leaking vessels caused by diabetic retinopathy. Over time, the dark spots may disappear, but significant problems could require replacing the vitreous fluid with saline to clear the vision.
Vision Loss
Diabetic retinopathy may cause significant vision loss, particularly if the swelling affects the macula, the portion of the retina responsible for clear central vision. Macular swelling may cause difficulty with reading and face recognition, as well as other daily tasks. After laser treatments, some patients have a nearly full return of vision, but some may have permanent damage to vision loss.
A child with undiagnosed diabetic retinopathy may experience a continuous worsening of vision, and this may ultimately lead to blindness. If a child complains of vision changes, a parent should schedule an eye appointment to help ensure the health of the eyes.
