Patients With Diabetes Have Unique Eye Care Needs
Diabetes impacts your body’s ability to regulate blood sugar levels. Blood sugar levels and eye health may seem completely independent of each other, but that’s far from true.
Diabetes significantly increases your likelihood of developing serious eye diseases such as age-related macular degeneration and glaucoma. There are even eye diseases that are unique to people with diabetes. Unfortunately, most of these eye diseases develop without any noticeable symptoms.
People with diabetes need a diabetic eye exam at least once a year. This regular schedule allows us to monitor changes to your eyes and eye health and protect them from damage as much as possible. Request an appointment for your diabetic eye exam.
How Is a Diabetic Eye Exam Different from a Regular Exam?
While the core of both a standard, comprehensive eye exam and a diabetic eye exam include the same checks and tests, there are a few differences.
Diabetes poses a threat to the delicate internal structures of your eyes. During a diabetic eye exam, we use some additional imaging techniques to evaluate the health of your eyes from the inside out. Some of the imaging technology we use includes:
Diabetic Eye Disease
As the name might suggest, diabetic eye disease is a condition that is specific to people with diabetes. This condition has 2 major stages: diabetic retinopathy and diabetic macular edema.
With early diagnosis and treatment, these diseases can be managed. However, without the appropriate medical care, diabetic eye disease inevitably results in blindness.
Other Eye Health Issues Related to Diabetes
In addition to diabetic retinopathy and diabetic macular edema, diabetes may also increase your chances of developing:
Our diabetic eye exams monitor for signs of all these conditions, with a focus on preventive care and proactive management.
Diabetic Retinopathy
The retina contains a complex network of blood vessels. Over time, high blood sugar levels can damage these blood vessels, causing them to leak blood and fluid into the eye. This can cause blurry vision and eventual vision loss.
The eye may try to replace the damaged blood vessels by growing new ones. However, the new blood vessels are usually irregular and damaged, causing scar tissue to develop on the retina, impairing its ability to detect light.
Diabetic Macular Edema
The macula is a small portion of the retina which allows you to see details like letters and facial expressions. If diabetic retinopathy is not properly managed, the damaged and irregular blood vessels in the retina will continue to leak blood and fluid.
Over time, the liquid starts collecting in the retina, causing it to swell. Eventually, the retina will swell so much that it essentially overtakes the macula, damaging it and limiting your central vision. This is called macular edema.
Protect Your Vision with Diabetic Eye Care
Managing diabetes involves monitoring your visual health just as closely as your blood sugar levels. Because many diabetic eye conditions progress without early pain or noticeable visual loss, regular clinical monitoring remains the most effective defence against permanent vision loss.
We recommend all patients living with diabetes have a comprehensive eye exam at least once each year. Schedule your diabetic eye exam at Brighton Eyecare today to keep your eyes healthy.
Frequently Asked Questions About Diabetic Eye Exams
Elevated blood sugar levels can damage delicate retinal blood vessels, causing them to leak fluid, swell, or block blood flow entirely. Over time, unmanaged diabetes can lead to permanent vision impairment.
Diabetic eye exams detect early damage to delicate retinal blood vessels long before noticeable visual changes or pain occur. Book an appointment at Brighton Eyecare to receive a comprehensive evaluation and tailored advice for protecting your sight.
Individuals living with diabetes should receive a comprehensive eye exam at least once every year to monitor for subtle retinal changes over time. Book an appointment with our optometry team today to receive a comprehensive evaluation and tailored advice.
Yes, Saskatchewan Health Services covers annual comprehensive eye exams for all residents holding a valid health card with a medical diagnosis of diabetes. We encourage you to book an appointment with our team to access your covered annual exam at no out-of-pocket cost.
While both assess visual sharpness and general ocular health, a diabetic exam incorporates pupil dilation and specialized retinal imaging to inspect the internal vascular network in greater detail.
Sudden blurriness, double vision, or visual fluctuations can signal fluctuating blood sugar levels or swelling within the macula that requires prompt clinical attention. Contact our clinic right away or book an appointment to receive a comprehensive evaluation and tailored advice from our optometrists.
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Find us in Brighton Marketplace, near the Shoppers Drug Mart and the Pet Valu. There is plenty of parking available.
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