Diabetic Eye Exam

Why do I need diabetic eye exams if I have diabetes?

If you have Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes, you need diabetic eye exams because high blood sugar can cause serious damage to several parts of your eye. 

This includes the retina (the light-sensing tissues in the back part of your eye), the eye lens (the transparent curved tissue behind your pupil), and the optic nerve (the nerve that transmits images to your brain).

Diabetic eye exams are like an ordinary comprehensive eye exam but with a particular emphasis on examining the parts of the eye that diabetes most often affects. This exam allows for early diagnosis of serious eye diseases so you can get appropriate treatment and save your vision. 

What diseases do diabetic eye exams check for?

Northwest Eye Specialists provides routine diabetic eye exams to look for the signs of:

Diabetic retinopathy

Diabetic retinopathy occurs when the small blood vessels in your retina swell, leak fluid, or close due to high blood sugar levels. 

The most severe form of diabetic retinopathy involves the growth of abnormal blood vessels on the retina. Diabetic retinopathy can cause vision loss if unrecognized and untreated.

Cataracts

Cataracts usually develop due to eye changes (protein breakdown in your eye lens) as you age. But, people with diabetes are about twice as likely to develop cataracts, and cataracts often develop faster in people with diabetes. 

Untreated, cataracts can cause eye lens clouding that prevents you from reading, driving, and other normal activities.

Glaucoma

Glaucoma occurs when the optic nerve is damaged. This usually happens because of an increase in fluid in the front of your eye. Diabetics are about twice as likely to experience glaucoma. 

One example is neovascular glaucoma, in which abnormal blood vessel growth (tied to diabetic retinopathy) prevents normal fluid flow in the eye and spikes eye pressure. Without detection and treatment, glaucoma can steal your vision.

Diabetic macular edema

Diabetic macular edema occurs when fluid accumulates on the retina due to continued high blood sugar. This causes retina swelling and leads to blurry vision. Untreated, macular edema can lead to blindness. 

All of these diabetic eye diseases are detectable and treatable. 

When should I schedule diabetic eye exams?

Schedule your first diabetic eye exam after your diabetes diagnosis. Most patients with diabetes need annual diabetic eye exams after that. 

Call Northwest Eye Specialists or book your appointment through online scheduling now.