By Blua | Digital health by Bupa
4 minute read
Published 6 July 2026
Diabetes can affect eye health in a few different ways.
Changes in blood glucose levels can affect the lens of the eye, which may cause temporary changes in vision until levels stabilise.1
Over time, high blood glucose levels can affect the small blood vessels in the eye. This can lead to a condition called diabetic retinopathy.
Diabetic retinopathy can develop without obvious symptoms, which is why regular eye checks are important for early detection and treatment.
People living with diabetes are also at higher risk of glaucoma and cataracts, which can affect vision quality over time.2
Regular eye checks involve several tests that your optometrist may do to check general eye health and vision.
If you live with diabetes the following tests are important.
These tests help pick up changes early, often before you notice any symptoms.
Most people living with diabetes should have regular eye checks1, usually at least every 1 to 2 years. Your optometrist or healthcare team may recommend more frequent checks depending on your individual situation.
If you have been newly diagnosed with diabetes, it’s recommended to get an eye check and let your optometrist know about the condition.
If you live with diabetes and become pregnant, it is recommended that you have more regular eye checks during pregnancy, as recommended by your healthcare team.
Depending on the type of diabetes and how well your condition is managed your doctor may recommend more frequent testing. Always defer to your doctor’s advice and guidance.
There are simple things that can support your eye health alongside diabetes care:
Call us on 1300 030 238 (Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm AEST) to speak with one of our health professionals or register for a call back to find out what programs are available to you.
Our health and wellbeing information is regularly reviewed and maintained by a team of healthcare experts, to ensure its relevancy and accuracy. Everyone's health journey is unique and health outcomes vary from person to person.
This content is not a replacement for personalised and specific medical, healthcare, or other professional advice. If you have concerns about your health, see your doctor or other health professional.
Bupa Optical Head Optometrist Karen Makin talks about the importance of regular eye exams to help prevent diabetes-related vision loss and blindness.
Cataracts become more common with age and can affect your vision over time. Learn how to spot the signs, understand your risk and explore treatment options.
Bupa Optical Head Optometrist Karen Makin highlights the importance of regular eye exams in helping to detect glaucoma early and reduce the risk of vision loss.
Bupa Optical Head Optometrist Karen Makin talks about the importance of regular eye exams to help identify and treat cataracts caused by diabetes.
1 Diabetes Australia. (n.d.). Your eye health and diabetes.
2 Cleveland Clinic. (2024). Glaucoma. And Mrugacz, M., Pony-Uram, M., Bryl, A., & Zorena, K. (2023). Current approach to the pathogenesis of diabetic cataracts. International journal of molecular sciences, 24(7), 6317.
3 Health Direct. (2024). Eye tests.
