Be Proactive – Protect Your Vision!
Did you know that diabetic eye disease is the leading cause of blindness in American adults?
Many people with diabetes will develop diabetic retinopathy, as well as other eye diseases such as glaucoma and cataracts. Most diabetic eye diseases do not present symptoms until vision loss has already begun to occur.
Diabetic Eye Diseases
Unmanaged blood sugar levels cause damage to the small blood vessels in the retina at the back of the eyes, resulting in diabetic retinopathy, which can progress to diabetic macular edema.
The macula is the part of the eye responsible for our central vision, allowing us to read, recognize faces, and drive. Damage done by diabetic retinopathy and diabetic macular edema is not reversible, and is the leading cause of blindness in working-age adults.
Adults with diabetes are twice as likely to develop glaucoma. Glaucoma is a group of eye diseases that result from damage to the optic nerve. Glaucoma begins with a loss of peripheral vision, and if left untreated, continues to permanent blindness.
Cataracts are a clouding of the eye’s natural lens, resulting in gradual visual deterioration and requiring cataract surgery. Individuals with diabetes are much more likely to develop cataracts, usually at an earlier age than those without.
How Regular Exams Help
If you are an individual with diabetes, having your eyes examined regularly – preferably once or more a year – gives you the best opportunity to manage the risks of diabetic eye disease. Your optometrist will have the most accurate portrait of your ocular health, and therefore a better chance at early diagnosis and management.
What’s more, even if you have not been previously diagnosed with diabetes, your optometrist may be able to detect this disease in its earliest stages through your eye exam.
So why wait? Maintain your eye health and your quality of life with regular eye exams. For more information on our diabetic eye exams, contact us. We’d be happy to help.
You can find a list of the insurance plans we accept as well as FAQs here.
