Comprehensive Diabetic Eye Exams

Diabetes affects millions of people across the U.S. and increases the risk of developing potentially severe eye diseases. If you have diabetes, make sure to keep tabs on your eye health by seeing your optometrist regularly.

Glaucoma and cataracts are both more likely to affect people with diabetes. Having diabetes also puts you at risk of developing diabetic retinopathy and diabetic macular edema. Many of these diseases are asymptomatic until they start damaging your vision, so eye exams are vital for early detection and treatment.

Who can you trust to protect your eyes against diabetic complications? Book an appointment with one of our experienced eye doctors today and find the support you need.

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High-Risk Diabetic Eye Diseases

Glaucoma

Glaucoma occurs when the optic nerve is damaged, usually by higher than normal pressure in the eye. There are many types of glaucoma, but all of them cause vision loss without treatment. Glaucoma often develops slowly, but some kinds can appear very quickly and pose urgent risks to your eyesight.

If you have diabetes, your risk for open-angle glaucoma doubles. This common form of the disease usually doesn’t show symptoms until some of your vision is already gone.

While an eye doctor can help you diagnose and control glaucoma, they can’t reverse the vision loss it causes. That’s why regular glaucoma screenings are important—and included with our diabetic eye exams.

Cataracts

Cataracts “fog up” your vision over time by turning your eye’s lens pale and milky. They mostly occur in older people, but having diabetes puts you at risk for cataracts earlier in life.

Cataract surgery can restore vision lost to cataracts in most cases. Your ophthalmologist will remove the cataract lens during the surgery and replace it with an artificial one you can see through clearly.

Diabetic Retinopathy & Diabetic Macular Edema

Having diabetes can give you high blood sugar, which leads to swelling in the veins connected to your retina. If those veins break, blood and other fluids can leak into the retina, damaging your vision. This is called diabetic retinopathy.

Untreated diabetic retinopathy can also cause swelling in the macula—a part of the retina necessary for central vision. This process causes diabetic macular edema, which can make everyday tasks requiring central vision challenging to perform. You might find yourself unable to read a book, drive your car, or even recognize the faces of your loved ones.

When Should You Book an Exam If You Have Diabetes?

If you have diabetes, we strongly suggest booking eye exams with our eye doctors every year. More chances to diagnose potential problems give us better odds of tackling them effectively and preserving your vision.

When are you coming to see us next? Book your appointment today if you don’t have one already and let us help protect your eyes.

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