Diabetic Eye Exams
Why Are Diabetic Eye Exams Important?
Diabetes can have many negative effects on the eye. At O’Fallon Family Eyecare we work to ensure these effects are minimal with our eye exams for diabetics. The most important change is diabetic retinopathy which affects the vascular system in the back of the eye (retina) and cause anywhere from mild hemorrages to severe vision loss.
The good news is that diabetes is the leading cause of preventable blindness. In other words, if you take care of your diabetes and control your blood sugar, you will generally prevent diabetic eye damage.
What Happens At A Diabetic Eye Exam?
Diabetes can affect the eyes in numerous ways, so you’ll receive a very comprehensive exam. It starts with a good medical history. The optometrist will ask about your diabetes such as how long you have had it, how well your blood sugar is controlled and what medications you use to alter your sugar.
The actual testing portion of your eye exam for diabetes is fairly similar to a non-diabetic exam except the eye doctor will be looking for specific signs of diabetic eye changes such as cataracts, diabetic retinopathy, neovascular glaucoma and iris neovascularization.
Regular Exams Are Important!
Your eye doctor will tell you how often you should get your eyes checked for diabetic changes, but generally you should get your eyes examined at least once a year. People who have been diagnosed with retinopathy are usually seen more often to quickly detect more serious and sight threatening changes early.
Our optometrist is excellent at communicating with patient’s primary care doctors and endocrinologists. An eye exam for diabetes is an excellent tool for helping your doctor know how well your diabetes is treated overall.
