Why diet soda is dangerous for the eyes

1

Diet soda can pose a major risk to the eyes, as research claims. Excessive consumption of diet soda can lead to a condition called diabetic retinopathy.

Drinking four cans or about 1.5 liters of soft drinks a week can double your risk of diabetic retinopathy, a study has found. The findings are based on 609 adults, of whom 73 had type 1 diabetes, 510 had type 2 diabetes, and the data on the remaining 26 was unclear. The average age of the participants was 65 years.

Of the total number of participants, 46.8% drank regular soft drinks, and the rest – diet sodas. The study showed that those who regularly drank regular soft drinks were less likely to get this disease than those who preferred diet sodas.

Diabetic retinopathy is a complication of diabetes in which high sugar levels damage the retina, impairing vision. Since this disease is a great risk to a person, if it is not diagnosed, it can lead to irreversible blindness. Therefore, diabetics are always advised to have their vision checked regularly to prevent serious health complications.

Diabetes damages the body's blood vessels. When blood sugar rises abnormally high, it blocks the blood vessels that connect to various organs in the body. One such complication occurs in the tiny blood vessels of the eyes. When the blood vessels in the eyes become blocked, the retina, which captures light, is damaged, which subsequently disrupts the signals sent to the brain via the optic nerve. People with these complications are also at high risk: high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and regular tobacco use. Pregnant women are also prone to this disease. It is very important to control the level of sugar in the blood.