Diabetic Eye Exam

As many as one-third of people with diabetes have diabetic retinopathy, a leading cause of vision loss. Dr. Matthew Sisson, OD, and the team at Optic Gallery Sparks in Sparks, Nevada, provide diabetic eye exams to monitor your eye health when you have diabetes. Call the office for your next diabetic eye exam or schedule an appointment today.

What is a diabetic eye exam?

A diabetic eye examination detects vision issues and eye conditions that develop as the result of unmanaged or mismanaged diabetes. If you have diabetes, talk to the team at Optic Gallery Sparks about making diabetic eye exams a part of your routine care. 

Many people with diabetes don’t realize their eyes are damaged until it becomes severe. Diabetic eye exams give you the chance to detect these conditions in their earliest stages so you can take action and avoid irreversible damage. 

Why are diabetic eye exams important?

The objective of a diabetic eye exam is to detect diabetes-related eye damage. One possible complication of diabetes is called diabetic retinopathy — a condition that damages the retina of your eye.

When you have high blood sugar because of diabetes, the blood vessels in your eyes can burst and leak. That damages the retina, which is responsible for giving you clear vision. Without treatment, diabetic retinopathy causes gradual vision loss that cannot be reversed. 

Diabetes also increases your risk of other common eye conditions like glaucoma and cataracts, which can both reduce your visual acuity. 

To minimize your risk of diabetic retinopathy and other complications, you should manage your diabetes with personalized chronic care. That may involve altering your diet, getting more exercise, or taking insulin and other medications. 

What are other risk factors for diabetic eye complications?

Unmanaged or mismanaged diabetes is the most significant risk factor for diabetic retinopathy, but several other factors increase your risk too. Prioritize diabetic eye exams if you have:

• High blood pressure
• High cholesterol
• Long-term diabetes

If you have diabetes, be sure to pay attention to your vision. If you experience vision changes, like blurriness or eye floaters, schedule a visit to Optic Gallery Sparks immediately.

How often should I get diabetic eye exams?

The team at Optic Gallery Sparks recommends visiting for a diabetic eye exam once a year if you have diabetes, even if you manage your diabetes with diligent care.  

Call the friendly Optic Gallery Sparks staff to book your next diabetic eye exam or schedule an appointment online today.