Routine Eye Exams for Diabetics

If you have diabetes, you may be diligent about monitoring what you eat, getting enough exercise, and seeing your primary care provider. But are you as committed to maintaining your eye health as well? The leading cause of new cases of blindness in adults is diabetes. With the number of people living with diabetes rising, this is a growing problem.

Diabetes can cause several complications of the eyes such as diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, and cataracts. It is recommended that people with diabetes have a dilated eye exam at least once a year to help detect these problems early on. People often don’t experience symptoms initially — many of the complications of diabetes and the eye are painless and sightless diseases until they’ve progressed. Early detection and treatment, however, can prevent or delay blindness due to diabetic retinopathy in 90 percent of diabetics.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently conducted a study that found almost one-third of diabetic adults over the age of 40 years are affected by diabetic retinopathy. This disease is progressive and can lead to significantly impaired vision and even permanent vision loss. Diabetic retinopathy is expected to affect 16 million people with diabetes by 2050. Glaucoma and cataracts, both of which can also affect your vision to the point of blindness, are projected to increase with diabetics as well.

Other eye complications of diabetes include double vision, vision fluctuation (difficulty finding the best prescription for lenses when blood sugars are unstable), and dry eyes. If you experience any of the following symptoms, you should visit your eye care provider right away:

• Seeing little black lines or spots that don’t go away
• Seeing any red spots or red fog
• Having a sudden change in how clearly you see
• Taking longer than usual to adjust to darkness

While routine eye exams for diabetics are essential, here are some additional steps to also consider while managing your eye health:

• Monitor Blood Glucose (Blood Sugar): When blood glucose is too high, it can affect the shape of the eye’s lens, causing blurry vision, which goes back to normal after blood glucose stabilizes. High blood glucose can also damage the blood vessels in the eyes. Managing your blood glucose helps prevent these problems.
• Monitor Blood Pressure and Cholesterol: High blood pressure and high cholesterol can increase risk for eye disease and vision loss. Managing both will not only help the eyes but overall health as well.
• Making Healthy Lifestyle Choices: Engaging in regular exercise has phenomenal health benefits — it can help manage diabetes and improve eye health. Individuals who smoke can reduce their risk of diabetic retinopathy and other eye conditions by quitting.

We care about your eyes, and we understand there’s a lot to managing diabetes. If you need assistance with diabetic management, talk to your provider about additional resources or any further questions you may have. Routine eye exams can also be scheduled through our Ophthalmology Department. Click here to learn more.

Sources:
https://www.cdc.gov
https://www.aao.org