Do you suffer from diabetes? If so, it’s important to schedule regular diabetic retinal examinations with your Calgary eye doctor to prevent any ocular damage or vision loss.
Diabetic retinopathy refers to a condition that results from damaged blood vessels in the retina, which occurs due to poorly controlled blood sugar. Therefore, scheduling regular diabetic retinal examinations with your optometrist is very important if you have diabetes, as they will allow your eye doctor to check for:
- Vision loss
- Damaged nerve tissue
- Leaky blood vessels in the eye or changes to retinal blood vessels
- Fatty deposits on the retina
- Macular edema
Diabetic retinal examination, your Calgary optometrist can monitor the retina and the blood vessels inside the eye, detect early signs of any serious vision problems, and suggest the right treatment or management plan to protect you from vision loss.
Comprehensive Diabetic Retinal Exams and Eye Health Care in Calgary
Diabetic retinopathy is one of the leading causes of blindness in patients under the age of 65. However, early detection and treatment of this condition can significantly reduce your risk of vision loss. That’s why it’s so important to visit your Calgary eye doctor regularly if you suffer from diabetes.
At our Calgary eye clinic in Market Mall, we offer comprehensive eye exams, coupled with retinal imaging, to gain a better view of your eye health, and help protect you from vision loss.
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3 Ways Diabetes Can Damage Your Eyes
When your blood sugar levels are high due to diabetes and left uncontrolled, it can begin to affect your eyes and your vision. Here are just some of the ways this condition can affect your ocular health, and why it’s so important to regularly visit your optometrist if you have diabetes:
1. Blurry Vision
One of the first warning signs of progressive diabetes-induced vision impairment is blurry vision. Your vision may become blurred due to fluid leaking into the lens, causing it to swell and change shape, thus inhibiting your ability to focus. You may also experience blurry vision when you begin your insulin treatment for diabetes. However, for most people, this will clear once your blood sugar levels have stabilized.
Let Your Blood Sugar Levels Stabilize Before Getting a Prescription
If you have diabetes, you should refrain from getting new eyeglasses or contact lenses until your blood sugar levels have been under control for at least eight weeks. If you get new glasses or contact lenses before this, the prescription will fit the swollen eye lens and once the swelling has gone, the prescription won’t work anymore.
2. Weakened Blood Vessels
The worst damage caused by uncontrolled sugar levels is damage to the blood vessels in the retina, in the back of your eye. After many years of high blood sugar levels, the walls of the blood vessels in your retina will become weak and thin, causing them to bulge out and form pouches called micro-aneurysms.
These weak, thinning areas can leak a fatty protein, and if this leaks into the centre of your retina (macula), it can cause swelling and affect your vision. This is a serious eye complication, called diabetic macular edema, that can cause vision problems or blindness.
3. Retinal Detachment
Diabetic retinopathy can cause scars to form in the back of your eye. When the scars begin to pull your retina away from the back of your eye, it can cause a retinal detachment. This may result in symptoms such as floating spots in your vision, flashes of light, or severe vision loss.
Individuals with diabetes can lower their risk of retinal detachment by taking the right steps to ward off retinopathy, getting regular eye examinations, and seeking proper treatment from their optometrist.
YOUR COMPLETE GUIDE TO DIABETIC RETINOPATHY
Signs and Symptoms to Watch Out for if You Have Diabetes
If you have diabetes, it is crucial that you visit your optometrist regularly for checkups. You should also make an appointment with your eye doctor if you experience any of the following symptoms:
- Dark areas or vision loss
- Blurry or wavy vision
- Frequently changing vision
- Poor colour vision
- Floaters (spots or dark strings in your vision)
- Flashes of light
Apart from seeing your eye doctor regularly, there are other steps you can take to look after your eyes if you have diabetes. This includes:
- Getting your blood sugar levels under control by following a doctor-advised diet
- Maintaining and checking your blood pressure and cholesterol levels from time to time
- Quitting smoking and limiting your consumption of alcohol
- Adding physical exercise to your daily routine and staying as active as possible
The good news is that with proper care and early detection of diabetic retinopathy and other serious eye conditions, your optometrist can help you manage your symptoms and preserve your vision.
5 SIMPLE TIPS TO LOWER YOUR RISK OF DEVELOPING DIABETIC EYE DISEASE
Contact Us
At our Calgary eye clinic, our highly qualified eye doctors have the knowledge, training, and experience to detect early signs of serious eye conditions and can create a tailored treatment plan to help preserve your vision and maintain your eye health.
To find out more, contact us at 403-286-4884 or fill in our online contact form.
