Nearly 40 million Americans have diabetes, and every one of them is at risk of developing vision problems, like diabetic retinopathy, the leading cause of vision loss among people with diabetes.
For these individuals, regular eye exams aren’t just a routine part of vision care — they play an essential role in preventing vision loss by diagnosing and treating vision problems in their earliest stages, before noticeable vision changes even occur.
If you’ve never had a diabetic eye exam, you might be wondering what to expect and how these exams differ from your regular comprehensive eye exam. In recognition of National Diabetes Month, the team at Long Island Ophthalmic Concepts explains how diabetic eye exams “work” to protect your vision now and in the future.
Diabetes makes it difficult to manage your blood sugar levels, which serve as an energy source for all your cells and tissues. If you have diabetes, your glucose levels tend to be higher than normal — sometimes much higher — posing risks to organs, including your eyes.
As mentioned, diabetic retinopathy is one vision problem that’s associated with diabetes, but other issues are more common, too, including glaucoma, macular edema, and cataracts. Collectively, these vision problems are referred to as diabetic eye disease.
Diabetes can affect your eyes in other ways, too. For instance, some people with diabetes develop problems with their corneas, the clear, domed cover that rests over their iris and lens.
Because many of these conditions progress silently at first, regular exams are your best defense. Catching these changes early gives you the greatest chance of preventing serious eye issues and preserving your vision.
A diabetic eye exam includes the same evaluations as a regular eye exam, with a couple of important additions. The overall goal is to assess your overall eye health, with a particular focus on the parts of your eye and aspects of your vision most commonly affected by diabetes.
The dilated exam forms the cornerstone of your diabetic eye exam. During this exam, we use special eye drops to dilate your pupils painlessly, making it easier to view the retina and optic nerve head at the back of your eye.
During this exam, we look for subtle changes in your retina and the tiny blood vessels that supply it, along with “cupping” or other changes involving your optic nerve. In some instances, we can use special technology to evaluate these structures without dilating your pupils.
We also measure the pressure inside your eye, a crucial test for assessing glaucoma. Depending on your specific needs and risk factors, we may use additional evaluations and screenings to gain a more in-depth view of your eyes and to test your peripheral vision and color vision.
It’s easy to take vision for granted when you’re not experiencing any issues. But with diabetic eye disease, often the first symptom you’ll notice is a permanent loss of vision.
With timely care, many diabetic eye conditions can be managed to slow or even prevent vision loss. That’s why diabetic eye exams are considered essential, not optional, for anyone living with diabetes.
If you have diabetes, scheduling an eye exam now is the first step toward better vision in the future. To schedule your exam, request an appointment online or over the phone with the team at Long Island Ophthalmic Concepts in Bellmore and Great Neck, New York, today.
