Diabetes affects more than blood sugar. In fact, it also increases your chances of vision-robbing conditions such as glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy. Among adults with Type 2 diabetes, one in five of them also have eye problems caused by diabetes. To ensure that your eyes remain healthy as you maintain your diabetes, schedule regular diabetic eye exams with us at Southwest Orlando Eye Care.
A diabetic eye exam follows many of the same procedures as a comprehensive eye exam. Our optometrists will test your visual acuity and the health of your eyes.
In addition to these tests, our eye doctors will make certain to examine the backs of your eyes through a dilated exam. During this test, you will get eye drops that keep your pupils from contracting when our optometrists shine a light into your eyes. Our eye doctors will then look through the open pupils to see if you have any problems with the retinas, optic nerves, or blood vessels in your eyes.
While you may only experience blurry vision, diabetes can increase your chance of developing serious eye conditions. Our eye doctors will look for the following conditions so that in case you have one of them, we can start you with treatment before you lose eyesight:
Glaucoma: An increase in pressure inside the eyes
Macular degeneration: Fluid leaking out of the eyes' focusing area
Diabetic retinopathy: Damage to blood vessels that serve the retina
Cataracts: A clouding of the lenses of the eyes
The optometrists in Orlando at Southwest Orlando Eye Care recommends annual eye exams for all diabetics. Adults who have Type 1 diabetes need annual eye exams after an initial test within five years of diagnosis. If you have Type 2 diabetes, you need an eye exam as soon as possible and one each year after.
If you have diabetes, you need a good relationship with an optometrist that will last for the rest of your life. Trust us at Southwest Orlando Eye Care to be your partners for monitoring your eye health as part of your diabetes treatment. Phone our office at (407) 271-8931 to get answers to your questions or to make your appointment for a diabetic eye exam.