Skip to main content

Home » Dry Eye » How Diabetes Increases Dry Eye Risk in Children and Adolescents

How Diabetes Increases Dry Eye Risk in Children and Adolescents

The-Risk-Factors-In-Children-AdolescentsDiabetes is characterized by elevated blood sugar levels due to insufficient insulin production or the body’s insufficient response to the insulin produced.

Over time, high blood glucose levels can impact many parts of the body, including the eyes.

Children and adolescents with diabetes are significantly more likely to suffer from dry eye syndrome (DES) than their non-diabetic peers.

While many people mistakenly believe that DES is harmless, moderate to severe dry eye symptoms that go untreated can result in corneal abrasions and ulcers, and even permanent vision loss.

Dry eyes are of special concern to diabetics, who also have a higher risk of developing potentially sight-threatening eye conditions like diabetic retinopathy, macular degeneration, and glaucoma. For this reason, the sooner dry eye syndrome is treated, the better.

If your eyes feel dry, gritty, itchy or irritated, you could have dry eye syndrome. The sooner your Giddens Optometry eye doctor in Georgetown diagnoses DES, the sooner you can begin treatment to relieve your symptoms.

How Does Diabetes Contribute to Dry Eye in Children and Adolescents?

Children and adolescents with diabetes are significantly more likely to suffer from DES for several reasons:

  • Reduced corneal sensitivity: 

The body produces tears in response to messages received from the cornea. However, this reflex tear production is disturbed when the nerves in the cornea are damaged and become less sensitive. If the eyes don’t realize that they’re dry, or if there’s a grain of sand in the eye, it will produce fewer tears.

  • Prolonged course of diabetes medications:

Having diabetes from a younger age and being treated with diabetes medication can, over time, damage the lacrimal glands that provide the watery component of tears.

  • Reduced tear production:

High blood sugar causes nerve damage to the glands producing the essential components of the tears. This results in decreased tear production or reduced tear quality, and eventually chronic dry eye symptoms.

The good news is that diabetics who are able to achieve good control over their blood sugar levels experience fewer complications that can cause or exacerbate dry eye syndrome.

Diagnosis and Treatment of Diabetes Are Key

At Giddens Optometry, we assist in treating dry eye syndrome in both children and adolescents with diabetes. Contact Giddens Optometry in Georgetown today to schedule a comprehensive eye exam.

Our practice serves patients from Georgetown, Limehouse, Acton, and Halton Hills, Ontario and surrounding communities.


Book Online
Call Our Offices

x

a3ef93d0 34de 453f b5f4 5ffd895a5f85 (1)A Letter from Dr. Ben Giddens

Hello friends, I have retired!

I had 37 years of good fun in Georgetown and loved the gift of meeting so many warm and friendly people! I am very sorry that I didn’t have the time to chat with everyone about my exact plans, and felt guilty over that at times. It was not an easy task. If anyone wants, or needs to contact me, please send an email to my office and I will reply.

I am 66 years old and still feel like I am in good health. My wife died of cancer in 2021 but I have good friends and family and a fun life. I recently moved back to Toronto which is where I grew up as a teenager. I have an active outdoor life and have many ski trips and travel plans in front of me. Lots of interests and activities to explore with an overriding sense that I am a lucky guy. I am also a grandfather now.

I have always tried to employ staff and optometrists who have a heart. I think that is where the office is at today and I hope it continues. Everyone knows their work, and the heart matters.

Ben.