Diabetes and ultra-processed foods linked to vision loss

High blood sugar and the consumption of ultra-processed foods are significant risk factors for vision impairment and irreversible blindness. According to the Mayo Clinic, glucose spikes can progressively damage the delicate blood vessels in the retina, which is a leading cause of blindness in working-age adults.

Early symptoms of diabetic eye disease are often painless and subtle, including fluctuating blurred vision caused by lens swelling, difficulty perceiving color intensity, or trouble adapting to darkness. Urgent medical attention is required if a person experiences floating dark spots, light flashes, shadows in the field of vision, or sudden loss of central or peripheral vision.

Specialists, including Xavier Subiràs from IMO Grupo Miranza, warn that diets high in sugar and ultra-processed foods can compromise ocular health by affecting blood circulation and the retina. While occasional consumption of sweets is not necessarily a risk, habitual intake can displace nutrient-dense foods containing essential vitamins and antioxidants. Experts recommend a varied diet, such as the Mediterranean diet, which includes foods like oily fish to help protect eye tissues from oxidative stress.