Diabetic Eye Exams
Diabetes is the leading cause of blindness in American adults. If you have been diagnosed with diabetes or have a strong family history of diabetes, yearly eye exams is important to help preserve your vision.
How Can Diabetes Affect My Vision?
There are many very small blood vessels in the eye, especially in the retina. In diabetes, these blood vessels can become damaged and even leaky. This is called diabetic retinopathy.
The macula is the part of the eye responsible for our central vision, or our ability to see details such as words in a book or faces. In diabetic retinopathy, macular edema can lead to irreversible vision loss.
Glaucoma is an eye disease of the optic nerve that leads to peripheral vision loss, and complete vision loss if left untreated. Patients with diabetes are twice as likely to develop glaucoma.
Cataracts are a natural aging process where the eye’s lens becomes cloudy. Patients with diabetes are more likely to develop significant cataracts that can cause reduced vision, and increased sensitivity to glare.
When you book a diabetic eye exam at Bridges Eyecare, you will receive a complete comprehensive eye exam to help prevent vision loss.
In some cases, some patients do not even know that they have diabetes until they get an eye exam and their optometrist notices diabetic eye changes! If we find any signs of diabetic retinopathy, we will make sure to refer you back to your primary care provider for the appropriate testing and treatment.