Do you suffer from diabetes? If so, scheduling regular eye exams with your NW Calgary optometrist is of utmost importance. Here’s how diabetes can affect your vision and what steps you can take to reduce your risk of developing certain eye diseases and suffering from vision loss.
Diabetic retinopathy is caused by damage to the blood vessels in your retina (the tissue at the back of your eye) and one of the risk factors for this includes poorly controlled blood sugar levels. Some of the early symptoms of this condition include:
- Floaters
- Blurriness
- Dark areas of vision
- Difficulty perceiving colour
Therefore, regular diabetic retinal examinations are key for patients with diabetes. These eye exams will allow your Calgary eye doctor to check for:
- Any vision loss
- Macular edema
- Damaged nerve tissue
- Changes to the blood vessels in your retina
Visit Our NW Calgary Eye Doctors for a Diabetic Retinal Examination
Diabetic retinopathy is one of the leading causes of blindness in patients under the age of 65. However, early detection and treatment can reduce your risk of vision loss by up to 95 per cent. That’s why it’s so critical to schedule regular eye exams with your optometrist if you suffer from diabetes.
At our Calgary eye clinic, our optometrists offer affordable and comprehensive diabetic retinal examinations, as well as other services, including emergency eye care, and contact lens fittings, to protect the quality of your vision and the health of your eyes.
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5 Tips for Lowering Your Risk of Developing Diabetic Eye Diseases
If you have diabetes, you are at a higher risk of developing certain eye diseases, including diabetic retinopathy, cataracts, and glaucoma. The good news? There are certain steps you can take to protect your vision and reduce your chances of developing eye disease.
Here are some steps you should take:
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Schedule yearly eye exams with your Calgary optometrist. In its early stages, diabetic eye disease often doesn’t have any symptoms. A dilated eye exam by your optometrist will allow them to thoroughly check your retina and optic nerve for any early signs of damage. Regular monitoring of your eyes allows your optometrist to begin treatment as soon as signs of the disease appear.
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Maintain healthy blood pressure and cholesterol levels. Did you know that high blood pressure and cholesterol can increase your risk of developing eye disease and/or vision loss? Keeping both under control will not only benefit your eye health, but your overall well-being.
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Quit smoking. You already know the dangers of smoking, but did you know that if you smoke, your risk of developing diabetic retinopathy or any other diabetes-related eye disease is higher? Quitting smoking will not only help reduce that risk, but it’ll benefit your general health as well.
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Control your blood sugar. High blood sugar can affect the shape of your eye’s lens, causing blurry vision. This will go back to normal once your blood sugar stabilizes. However, high blood sugar can also damage the blood vessels in your eyes, so maintaining good control of this helps prevent any problems.
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Exercise regularly. One of the most effective strategies to prevent or slow the progression of diabetic retinopathy is lifestyle modifications, including making sure you exercise regularly. Regular exercise will help lower your blood sugar and control your diabetes, therefore protecting your ocular health.
Our NW Calgary Eye Doctors Are Happy to Be Serving You Once Again!
Our NW Calgary eye clinic is open once again and our optometrists are happy to be serving you. We are currently rescheduling our patients on a priority basis and are committed to keeping our clients and staff safe by taking all the necessary safety and infection precautions.
If you have any questions about the costs and benefits of a diabetic retinal examination, if you have an eye emergency, or you simply have a concern about your ocular health, contact us at 403-286-4884 or fill in our online contact form.
