If you suffer from diabetes, you possess a greater chance of developing such eye diseases as cataracts, glaucoma, and diabetic retinopathy, which occurs when high blood sugar damages delicate blood vessels within your eyes. Classic Vision Care optometrists Dr. Mital Patel, OD, and Dr. Sela Hothersall, OD, can help you prevent diabetic eye disease via thorough diabetic eye exams at their offices in Kennesaw and East Cobb / Marietta, Georgia.
Understanding diabetic eye exams
While yearly eye exams are crucial for everyone, they’re even more important for patients with diabetes. Dr. Patel and our team stay abreast of any changes in your eyes due to diabetes or other causes. During a diabetic eye exam, we:
- Dilate your eyes with drops.
- Look outside and within your eyes.
- Search for abnormalities.
- Check the retina for damaged blood vessels.
The sooner we diagnose any eye issues, the earlier we address them to reduce further vision loss.
Tips to prevent diabetic eye disease
According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, you can reduce your chances of diabetic eye disease in a variety of ways.
1. Maintain healthy cholesterol and blood pressure.
2. Don’t smoke.
Avoid second-hand smoke, as well. Smokers remain more at risk for diabetic retinopathy, as well as:
- Glaucoma, which damages the optic nerve and can lead to vision loss
- Macular degeneration, damaging your retina and reducing vision
- Cataracts
- Dry eyes
3. Keep blood sugar in check.
This is especially important for diabetics. High blood sugar can actually alter the shape of your lens temporarily, causing blurred vision, and damage blood vessels.
4. Exercise regularly.
Maintaining a healthy weight and exercising keeps both body and vision fit. Exercise helps you manage blood sugar, blood pressure and weight, the levers that lower your risk of diabetic retinopathy. Walk, run, swim, and dance… simply keep moving to maintain your well-being and eyesight.
5. Schedule a diabetic eye exam at least once a year.
If you notice any significant vision changes, contact our office as soon as possible.
Signs of diabetic eye disease
Diabetic eye disease often goes unnoticed. You may not see any symptoms during its early stages. Be on the lookout for:
- Blurred vision
- Trouble reading
- Difficulty seeing distant objects
Dr. Patel and our doctors can determine if diabetic eye disease is the cause of your issues. As the disease progresses, you might also notice floaters, dark spots, or thin streaks moving across your field of vision. This occurs when damaged blood vessels begin to bleed. The longer you’ve had diabetes, the greater your chances of developing diabetic eye disease. Maintaining regular eye exams and keeping your diabetes and blood sugar in check protect your vision. Our team at Classic Vision Care looks forward to protecting your vision. If you notice any changes in your vision or want to schedule a diabetic or routine eye exam, simply call us or book an appointment online today.
What has changed about diabetic eye care since this was written?
The core advice still holds. People with diabetes need a dilated diabetic eye exam at least once a year [1]. What has sharpened is the timing. If you have type 1 diabetes, yearly eye exams should start within five years of diagnosis [2]. If you have type 2 diabetes, yearly diabetic eye exams should start right after diagnosis, because the disease may have been present for years [3]. Women with diabetes who are planning a pregnancy should have an eye exam before pregnancy or within the first three months [3]. Diabetic retinopathy can get worse during pregnancy.
Why the urgency? The early stages of diabetic retinopathy usually have no symptoms [1]. Over time, more than half of people with diabetes will develop some diabetic retinopathy [1]. Diabetic retinopathy is still the leading cause of blindness in working-age adults [2]. Treatment works best when damage is found early, before vision changes. Some patients with diabetic retinopathy need a dilated exam as often as every two to four months [1]. Your eye doctor sets that schedule based on what the retina shows.
The five prevention steps above have not changed, but the wording matters. Blood sugar, blood pressure and cholesterol are the three numbers to manage, and smoking adds risk on top of them [2]. Exercise and a healthy weight help you control those numbers. They do not treat diabetic retinopathy on their own.
How does this fit a visit to Classic Vision Care? A diabetic eye exam at our Kennesaw or East Cobb office includes dilation and a careful look at the retina. Our doctors review the findings with you in plain language and explain what each one means for your diabetes. We can send a report to your primary care doctor or endocrinologist so your whole care team sees the same picture. Blood sugar swings can also shift your glasses prescription. The optical showroom at either office can update your lenses, and adjustments are always free.
Both offices book diabetic eye exams, so choose the one closer to home or work. For a step-by-step walkthrough of the visit, read our newer post on dilated eye exams for diabetes in Kennesaw and East Cobb.
Related reading: dilated eye exams for diabetes in Kennesaw and East Cobb, understanding diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma detection and management, book an appointment online.
Sources
- National Eye Institute, "Diabetic Retinopathy"
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, diabetes and vision loss
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, diabetic eye disease
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