WHAT IS A DIABETIC EYE EXAM?
A diabetic eye exam can be completed during a routine comprehensive eye exam. The doctor examines the retina by dilating the eyes or by taking retinal images to look for signs of diabetic retinopathy and diabetic macular edema. Because diabetes can also increase the risk of cataracts and glaucoma, the exam includes an evaluation of your overall eye health. Changes in blood sugar can temporarily affect vision and may cause your glasses prescription to fluctuate.
WHAT IS DIABETIC RETINOPATHY?
Diabetic retinopathy is an underlying condition that can arise due to uncontrolled diabetes. This can affect a person’s vision and eye health. This is caused by damage to the blood vessels of the light-sensitive tissue at the retina or the back of the eye. Too much sugar in your blood can lead to the blockage of the tiny blood vessels that nourish the retina, cutting off its blood supply. This can affect people who have both type 1 and 2 diabetes and occasionally patients who have gestational diabetes.
SYMPTOMS OF DIABETIC RETINOPATHY
The longer you have uncontrolled diabetes, the more likely you are to develop these eye complications:
-Dark spots floater in vision (Floaters)
-Blurry vision
-Dark areas in vision
-Vision loss
-Fluctuating vision