Why Regular Eye Exams Are Essential for Diabetics

Diabetes is a disease that can affect many parts of the body. People who suffer from the disease are susceptible to eye damage. The condition causes damage to the blood vessels, including those in the eye retina.

Being diabetic increases the risk of developing diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, macula edema, cataracts, and other conditions. Most people do not realize they have eye damage until the disease has progressed. Find out why regular eye exams are essential for diabetics.

Diabetic Eye Diseases

Over 30 million people in the U.S. have diabetes. The health condition increases the risk of developing eye and vision complications. Diabetes damages nerves, blood vessels, and other optical tissue. It can cause various conditions known as diabetic eye diseases.

Unfortunately, most of these diseases do not present symptoms in the early stages when they are easier to treat. Most people do not realize they have a problem until it begins to affect their vision.

Regular Eye Exams

Routine eye exams can help to detect problems that cause blurry vision and other complications. People with diabetes need to schedule annual exams to check their eye health. Do not wait to experience vision problems before scheduling an eye exam.

The exam can help to detect diseases in the early stages when they are easier to treat. Your doctor can inform you how often you should undergo screening. Eye doctors have equipment to check the back of the eye.

Dilated Eye Exam

If you have diabetes, you need a dilated eye exam. During the exam, the doctor will administer eye drops to dilate your pupils. It helps to view the back of the eye more effectively. The doctor uses a special magnifying glass and a bright light to look for signs of damage due to diabetes.

During the exam, the doctor can view the blood vessels, the optic nerve, and the back of the eye. A slit lamp helps to check the cornea. Sometimes, doctors use a digital retinal scan or imaging instead of dilating the pupil. They use a special camera to take photos of the retina.

Diabetic Retinopathy

A common eye condition related to diabetes is diabetic retinopathy. It is a leading cause of blindness among adults living with diabetes. Prolonged high sugar levels cause damage to the retina’s blood vessels. The disease progresses through stages.

In the first stage, nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy, the blood vessels are weak and begin to leak. The condition progresses to the proliferative retinopathy stage, where new blood vessels grow on the retina. The disease does not usually exhibit symptoms in the early stage. As it advances, the symptoms are severe.

Diabetic Macula Edema

People with diabetes can also develop diabetic macula edema. It is a complication of retinopathy where leaky vessels cause fluid accumulation. The fluid causes macula swelling, resulting in blurry eyesight.

Diabetes can increase the risk of developing glaucoma. Eye fluid pressure damages the optic nerve, which can lead to vision loss. People with diabetes are also more likely to develop cataracts. High blood sugar, swelling, and blood vessel damage increase the risk of getting a cloudy area in the eye lens.

For more on why regular eye exams are essential for diabetics, visit InSight EyeCare. Our office is in Houston, Texas. Call (713) 462-2010 to schedule an appointment today.