Guard yourself against diabetic eye disease
Diabetes can increase your risk for numerous eye diseases and other health problems, including retinopathy, glaucoma, and cataracts. Since many of these conditions can cause permanent vision loss, it’s vital for people with diabetes to monitor their eye health carefully.
Optical Eyeworks offers eye exams specifically designed to detect the signs of ocular diseases associated with diabetes. The sooner we identify these problems, the sooner we can work with you to treat or manage them and help protect your vision.
Do you need a diabetic eye exam? Contact our practice now.
Primary causes of diabetes-related vision loss
Diabetic retinopathy is a leading cause of blindness for people with diabetes. This disease is caused when high blood sugar levels damage blood vessels connected to the retina, which can leak and obscure vision.
If left untreated, diabetic retinopathy can lead to diabetic macular edema, which occurs when the macula at the retina’s centre swells up. Since the macula is responsible for central vision, any damage to this part of the eye can permanently affect your ability to read, drive, or perform other everyday tasks.
In some cases, scarring from diabetic retinopathy can also cause retinal detachment. All of these outcomes are potentially preventable if retinopathy is caught early by an eye doctor who can provide appropriate care.
Diabetic eye diseases often don’t show symptoms before they cause vision loss, but the earlier you know about them, the more you’ll be able to do to control their effects. Regular eye exams can warn you and your optometrist about these issues and give you essential time to act before your vision is endangered.
Even though many diabetic eye diseases don’t come with obvious early warning signs, some people may notice changes to their vision before it is permanently affected. Contact your optometrist right away if you experience any of the following symptoms:
- Vision that blurs with no other obvious cause
- Sudden flashes of light
- Seeing double
- Sudden changes to your vision, often within the same day
- A loss of peripheral vision
- New floaters
- Visual distortions
Eye exams: Your safety net for diabetic eye disease
If you are living with diabetes, inform your optometrist promptly so they can monitor you for related eye health and vision problems. Book your next appointment today and continue to protect your eyes with regular eye exams.
