Four Ways Sugar Can Impact Your Vision       

It’s Valentine's Day, the one holiday dedicated to sweethearts—and sweets! According to Fortunly.com, Americans spend $1.8 billion on Valentine’s candy alone.

Before you know it, another big candy holiday will be here. Easter candy sales typically surpass Valentine’s Day, with Americans spending a whopping $3.04 billion on Easter candy in 2021.

Although the occasional truffle or chocolate bunny is harmless for most of us, excessive sugar consumption isn’t good for anyone. We all know that refined sugar consumption can lead to weight gain and tooth decay, but too-frequent sweet tooth indulgence can also impact your eyes in the following ways.

1. High blood sugar: If you have diabetes or pre-diabetes, consuming refined sugar can elevate your blood glucose levels. This can cause your eye lenses to swell, resulting in blurry vision. Over time, uncontrolled blood sugar can damage the eye’s blood vessels enough to cause diabetic retinopathy.
2. Glaucoma: High blood sugar coupled with high blood pressure can lead to a dangerous rise in intraocular pressure (pressure inside the eyes). Glaucoma can damage your optic nerve and even result in blindness.
3. Cataracts: Yes, even cataract development can be hastened by consuming too much sugar. Because sugar is an inflammatory food, it speeds up the deterioration of cells throughout the body, including the eye’s lens. While anyone can get cataracts, they develop earlier and faster in people with uncontrolled blood sugar.
4. Macular degeneration: A healthy diet can help protect you from age-related macular degeneration. One reason that Americans have a higher risk of macular degeneration is our high consumption of inflammatory, processed sugar.

Are you concerned that refined sugar may be impacting your precious vision? The best way to find out is to schedule a comprehensive eye exam today. Call or text us at (423) 855-8522 to make an appointment with Dr. Matzkin or Dr. Herron, your Chattanooga eye care experts. Our friendly staff works hard to provide you with a pleasant, safe experience! Click here to learn about our current Covid-19 safety protocols.