Diabetic eye examination

Diabetes is a chronic condition which affects the body’s ability to regulate blood sugar. Too much sugar in your blood stream can cause a blockage in the small blood vessels of your retina. As a result, the eye forms new blood vessels to nourish the retina. Unfortunately, the blood vessels do not develop adequately which cause them to leak and swell. If untreated, this can cause vision loss. Most eye diseases caused by diabetes affect your eye slowly and therefore, may not have noticeable visual symptoms. It is extremely important to have a diabetic eye examination annually. Your eye doctor can use instruments to look at the health of your retina. Diabetes can increase your risk of glaucoma, cataracts, and age-related macular degeneration. When diagnosed early, diabetic retinopathy can be effectively managed to prevent vision loss.

Diabetic retinopathy is the leading cause of preventable vision loss. If you have questions about how diabetes affects your eyes or about a diabetic eye exam, call our office to speak to an eye care specialist at (480) 806-2181.