Diabetic Eye Exams | Vision Veritas

Protecting Patients With Diabetes

Diabetes is a growing issue in America. With millions of Americans facing potential vision loss from the disease, people with diabetes need to take special care of their eyes and vision. Diabetes can lead to several eye diseases, such as diabetic retinopathy, diabetic macular edema, cataracts, and glaucoma.

To protect the vision and eye health of patients with diabetes, more frequent eye exams are recommended. While this can change from person to person, yearly eye exams are the best option for patients with diabetes.

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How Diabetes Affects the Eye

Diabetes is a disease that affects a patient’s whole body, even small parts, such as the retina. As the disease limits the body from properly controlling blood sugar levels, the eye’s blood vessels can be damaged.

In the case of the eye’s retina, it contains extremely small blood vessels that can be easily damaged. If damaged, patients can experience vision loss.

Diabetic Eye Diseases

Since patients with diabetes are at a higher risk of developing eye diseases, we spend extra time during an exam ensuring their eyes are healthy. At a diabetic eye exam, we’ll typically check for the following eye diseases.

Diabetic Retinopathy & Diabetic Macular Edema

Diabetic retinopathy is caused by damage to the retina from high blood sugar. Having high blood sugar increases the chances the delicate blood vessels inside the retina can break. Once broken, the blood vessels can leak blood into the eye. This can eventually create scar tissue and limit vision.

If diabetic retinopathy is left untreated, diabetic macular edema can develop. This occurs when the macula is affected by broken blood vessels.

The macula is responsible for central vision. If damaged, simple tasks like reading and driving can become difficult.

Cataracts

Cataracts are most often thought of as an age-related eye disease. However, patients with diabetes have a higher chance of developing the disease earlier in life.

Cataracts are the clouding of the eye’s lens. Over time, the disease will make it hard for patients to see clearly. To be treated completely, cataracts require surgery where the eye’s natural lens is replaced with an artificial one.

Glaucoma

Glaucoma is the leading cause of blindness in patients over 60. However, patients with diabetes are nearly twice as likely to develop and experience the effects of glaucoma. Glaucoma is made up of a group of diseases that damage the optic nerve.

It’s common for patients not to experience any early signs or symptoms of glaucoma. This means regular eye exams are one of the only ways to identify the disease in its early stages when it can still be managed.