Do You Get Blurred Vision After Eating?

Have you ever gotten up from the table after enjoying a meal and noticed that things appeared fuzzy or blurry? If so, you may have experienced a temporary spike in blood sugar that affected your eyes.

If your vision is often blurred after meals, you should schedule a visit to your optometrist and general practitioner to rule out diabetes and other conditions.

The Link Between Blood Sugar and Vision

Diabetes is characterized by excessively high blood sugar levels. In some people it causes food to be digested faster than usual, leading to rapid spikes in blood sugar. Elevated blood sugar can lead to fluid building up in the eyes, resulting in blurry vision.

The eye's natural crystalline lens and cornea are responsible for focusing light onto the retina for clear vision. When the eye swells due to excess fluid resulting from high blood sugar, it temporarily doesn't focus light with the same accuracy.

Foods that are high in sugar and other carbohydrates are most likely to cause blood sugar to spike. Some examples include: white rice and pasta, most breakfast cereals, potatoes, sugary sodas and beverages, candies and baked goods, and fruit juice.

Other Possible Causes of Temporary Blurred Vision

Temporary eyesight changes don't always mean diabetes. Intermittent blurred vision can be caused by carotid stenosis, migraines, certain medications, eye strain, pink eye (conjunctivitis), keratitis, glaucoma, or macular degeneration.

Many of these conditions will also present with symptoms other than blurred vision. If you notice blurred vision only following a high-carb meal, it may be worth tracking your meals and symptoms to find a pattern. This information will be valuable for your optometrist and other health care professionals.

How We Can Help

At Eyecare Professionals of Gahanna, we offer a wide range of eye care services, such as eye exams and eye disease management, including diabetic eye disease. If you're concerned about temporary blurred vision after eating or any other visual symptoms, contact us to schedule your comprehensive eye exam.

To schedule your eye exam, call Eyecare Professionals of Gahanna in Gahanna today!

Q&A

How often do I need an eye exam? The American Optometric Association recommends that adults have their eyes checked by an optometrist every 1-2 years. For high risk patients or those over the age of 65, annual eye exams are recommended.

Does being diabetic make a person more likely to experience vision loss? Diabetes can negatively impact your eyes in more ways than one. Having undiagnosed diabetic retinopathy puts a person at a much greater risk of going blind. If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with diabetes, be sure to schedule regular diabetic eye exams including retinal scans.