Diabetic Eye Exams

Diabetic Care Includes Vision Care

Most people are familiar with the ways diabetes can impact the human body, but vision health is not always top of mind when it comes to diabetic care.

We understand that visual health is an important part of overall health and well-being. Our comprehensive eye care includes monitoring the eyes of patients with diabetes. Consider us a large part of your health care routine.

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Diabetes & Your Eyes

Diabetes is a disease that impacts the production of insulin, a hormone produced in the pancreas responsible for regulating your body’s blood sugar levels.

If you have diabetes, your body either does not make insulin or doesn’t use it properly. This means too much sugar stays in the bloodstream.

Elevated blood sugar levels for a prolonged period of time can lead to a variety of health issues. Most people are probably aware of the ways in which diabetes impacts your general health, but it is important to recognize the detrimental effects diabetes can have on your eyes and vision.

Diabetes is a leading cause of new cases of blindness in adults. To help protect your vision, comprehensive eye exams are important tools.

For people with diabetes, we recommend comprehensive eye exams at least once per year. After getting to know you and your health, we may suggest a higher frequency dependent upon your unique situation.

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Diabetic Eye Diseases

People with diabetes may not notice any changes in their vision, but the disease can impact your eyes in a variety of ways.

Diabetic Retinopathy

Diabetic retinopathy often progresses slowly and may not present visible symptoms until irreversible vision loss occurs. Elevated blood sugar levels cause the tiny, delicate blood vessels which feed your retina to swell.
The blood vessels eventually break and leak fluid into the eye. In the early stages of diabetic retinopathy, blurry vision is a common symptom.

Diabetic Macular Edema

Diabetic macular edema occurs when the macula swells due to excess fluid from the broken blood vessels. The macula is responsible for your central vision so impairment can impact the ability to read, write, drive, and recognize faces. This condition is quite serious and can lead to blindness.
For more information about macular health, visit our Macular Health Clinic page.