Diabetic Eye Exam

An Essential Part of Your Health Care: Diabetic Eye Exam

A diabetes diagnosis can change your life in many ways. Not only do you need to pay attention to your food choices and lifestyle, but you also need to be diligent to take the recommended medications that are provided by your doctor. In addition to regular visits with your general health practitioner, it is also a good idea to schedule appointments with other specialists. For example, you should schedule a diabetic eye exam right away.

These treatments are essential so that you can balance your blood sugar and protect your health. Plus, the specialists can help with early detection of potential eye problems. Addressing the issues in the early stages will protect your vision and help you avoid serious complications from high blood sugar levels.

What Makes a Diabetic Eye Exam Unique?

It is interesting to see how much the eyes can tell about the health of your blood sugar levels. In many situations, a person is diagnosed with diabetes; then they need to visit an eye doctor to see if the damage is occurring in the eyes. But, there are situations where a routine eye exam can uncover signs that a person might have diabetes. Whether you have diabetes or it is just time for a regular eye exam, your eye doctor will look at potential signs that your eyes are being affected by high blood sugar.

Finding these health concerns in the early stages is key to prevent major damage. Early management and treatment can help you keep the symptoms under control, reducing the likelihood that you will suffer from full loss of vision.

Even a routine eye exam can uncover many issues. If the eye doctor detects signs of potential eye diseases, then additional tests can be run to show the full extent of the damage. As a result, treatment options can be identified to maximize your vision.

When Should You Schedule an Eye Exam?

If you have great vision, then it might seem unnecessary to schedule an eye exam. But, a diabetes diagnosis increases the risk that you could experience visual complications. So, you should schedule an appointment with an eye doctor as soon as possible.

Even though your eyes seem to be stable and you aren’t experiencing any symptoms of eye diseases, an exam can detect problems in the earlier stages. Keep in mind that certain diabetic eye diseases don’t exhibit symptoms in the earliest stages. Once the symptoms are present, it is too late to reverse the damage. So, regular visits with an optometrist or ophthalmologist are essential so that you can use treatments as needed.

Painless Tests to Detect Eye Problems

Your eye exam is a painless way to see if you have any complications that need to be addressed. An eye doctor can identify symptoms that could lead to eye diseases that are common for people with diabetes: cataracts, glaucoma, retinopathy, edema, and more.

For more information, the best thing that you can do is schedule an appointment with our experienced team at Village Eyecare. We have four optometry offices in Chicago, and we are always here to help with your eye care needs. Call today to schedule a diabetic eye exam!