Diabetic Eye Exam Specialist

How can diabetes affect my eyes?

Diabetes can cause diabetic eye disease, which is a group of eye issues that could lead to vision impairment or loss. 

The most common diabetic eye disease is diabetic retinopathy. This condition occurs when high blood sugar, and possibly high blood pressure, prevent your retinal blood vessels from getting the oxygen and nutrients they need. 

This damage may trigger the growth of fragile new blood vessels, which rupture and leak into the vitreous gel around your retina. 

Diabetes can also cause retinal vein occlusion, in which the blood vessels connected to your retina develop blood clots and grow blocked.

It can also cause diabetic macular edema, in which fluid from leaking blood vessels cause too much fluid buildup in your inner retina. Diabetes may also contribute to cataracts and glaucoma. 

All of these conditions can cause blindness. But, if you control your blood sugar and blood pressure, and get support from your Retina Specialists ophthalmologist, you can maximize your vision.

When should I have a diabetic eye exam?

You need a diabetic eye exam after your diabetes diagnosis, and then at regular intervals afterward. The American Diabetes Association® recommends the following exam schedule. 

Type 1 diabetes

Within five years of your type 1 diabetes diagnosis, schedule a comprehensive eye exam.

Type 2 diabetes

As soon as you receive a type 2 diabetes diagnosis, schedule a comprehensive eye exam at Retina Specialists. In many cases, some eye damage has already occurred by the time of diagnosis, which means swift action is essential.

After your first diabetic eye exam, you should have a comprehensive eye exam once a year, or as recommended by your Retina Specialists ophthalmologist. 

If you’re pregnant and have any type of diabetes, you need a comprehensive eye exam within the first trimester, and another eye exam a year after your baby’s birth.

What happens during a diabetic eye exam?

During a diabetic eye exam, your Retina Specialists ophthalmologist checks your vision with an eye chart and then dilates your eyes with eyedrops. This opens your eyes so your ophthalmologist can view the back of your eye using high magnification. 

During this exam, your ophthalmologist can recognize problems with the middle and back of the eye. Your ophthalmologist also views the front of your eye, the cornea, through a tool called a slit lamp. 

Your diabetic eye exam typically includes tests for glaucoma, checking for cataracts, macular degeneration, and overall evaluation of your eye health. If you have diabetic retinopathy or any other eye disease, your ophthalmologist can begin effective treatment promptly. 

Call Retina Specialists to arrange your diabetic eye exam now.