Diabetes: Eye Exams
www.CardioSmart.org A dilated eye exam lets your eye doctor see the back of your eye. This test can detect eye problems like diabetic retinopathy. Before the test, your eye doctor will use eyedrops to widen, or dilate, your pupils. This makes it easier for the doctor to see into your eye. The eyedrops take about 15 to 20 minutes to fully dilate your pupil. Your doctor may also use eyedrops to numb your eyes. Who should get a dilated retinal exam? Everyone with diabetes should have regular dilated retinal exams. Diabetes can lead to eye problems that cause vision loss or blindness. The longer you have diabetes, the more likely you will have eye problems. By the time you notice any vision problems, your eyes may already be seriously damaged. A thorough exam can help detect symptoms early. Early treatment may help protect your vision. People with diabetes are also at a higher risk for glaucoma. This is increased pressure inside the eye, which can cause blindness. An eye exam can check for this condition along with diabetic retinopathy. How often should you be tested? If you have diabetes, get tested every year, or more often if your doctor says to. If your eye exam results are normal, your doctor may consider follow-up exams every 2 years instead of every year. But if you are diagnosed with diabetic retinopathy, youmay need frequent eye exams. Who performs a dilated retinal exam? This test can be done by: • An ophthalmologist. Ophthalmologists are medical doctors who diagnose and treat eye problems, diseases, and injuries. • A licensed optometrist. Optometrists are health professionals who diagnose and treat vision problems and eye diseases. They also do routine vision testing and prescribe eyeglasses and contact lenses. An optometrist is not a medical doctor, Continue reading >>
Diabetes Discovery – Via The Eyes
Did you know that an eye exam can be the first clue to detecting diabetes and other hidden health concerns? Finding health issues early can give patients a better chance at preventing damage through early treatment and management. A routine eye exam can show so many things. Some can be downright life changing – and life-saving – for that matter. One doctor found out first-hand when she did the same thing she does every day – she looked into a patient's eyes. But this was no ordinary exam. When Kathleen Clary, OD, peered into her 48-year-old patient’s eyes, she saw blood and other fluids seeping out of fragile and miniscule vessels in her retinas. The retina is the light and sight-sensing back part of the eye – and without it, you don't see. “As soon as I noticed the leaking fluids and the hemorrhaging, I suspected that they might be symptoms of diabetes,” recalls Dr. Clary, who practices in the Washington, D.C., suburb of Ashburn, Virginia. “In my 12 years of experience as an eye doctor, that kind of bleeding usually signals that a buildup of sugar in the patient’s bloodstream has begun to break down the capillaries that feed the retina. The result is often what we call diabetic retinopathy – a condition in which continuing damage to retinal tissue from diabetes can lead to impaired vision or even blindness, if left untreated.” The eye exam was the very first clue the patient had that she might have diabetes. Dr. Clary talked with her patient about what she saw and explained what it could mean. “I want you to have your blood sugar level checked right away by your family doctor,” she told her patient. “Tell the doctor you need to be evaluated for diabetes with a fasting blood sugar test, because your optometrist noticed some retinal bleeding. Continue reading >>
Optometrist Or Ophthalmologist: Which Is Best For Your Eye Care?
Whether youre schedulingyour first routine eye exam, getting new glasses or having a problem with your vision, a quick search online for eye doctors may leave you scratching your head. Is an optometrist or ophthalmologist best? And where do opticians fit in? Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. Policy Ophthalmologist Scott Wagenberg, MD , helps answer your questions about what each type of eye doctor can do. He also offers examples of what services each may offer. Opticians can help you select and fit your prescription eyeglasses properly. Theycan advise you on frames and certain types of lenses and lens coatings. They work from orderswritten by optometrists or ophthalmologists.But they dont give eye exams or write prescriptions themselves.They do not diagnose or treat eye problems at all, Dr. Wagenberg says. How doophthalmologists and optometrists differ? Much of the difference comes down to education. Optometrists go to optometry school for four years and often do an extra year of residency, Dr. Wagenberg says. Ophthalmologists go to medical school for four years, followed by four years of residency. He adds that ophthalmologists often do a one- or two-year fellowship to specialize. They may focus on such things as glaucoma or pediatrics. An ophthalmologist will have an MD (doctor of medicine) or a DO (doctor of osteopathic medicine) after his or her name. Optometrists will have an OD after their names. They earn a doctor of optometry degree. Another key difference is whether doctors performsurgery. Optometrists can handle nearly all the medical aspects of ophthalmology. But they do not perform surgery, Dr. Wagenberg explains. Ophthalmo Continue reading >>
Diabetic Retinopathy | Lubbock Optometrist
Home > Services > Eye Conditions > Diabetic Retinopathy Ginter Eyecare Center: State-of-the-Art Care for Diabetic Retinopathy in Lubbock Diabetic retinopathy is a leading cause of vision loss for men and women with diabetes, affecting millions of people each year in the U.S., most of them seniors. As a top-rated optometry practice in Lubbock, Ginter Eyecare Center is a leadingprovider of comprehensive senior eye exams to help diagnose DR as early as possible, as well as treatment options to help manage the condition. What symptoms does diabetic retinopathy cause? Diabetic retinopathy occurs in stages, and in the very early stage of the disease, it causes no noticeable symptoms, even though changes will be taking place inside your eye. Having regular eye exams is the best way to catch diabetic retinopathy in this early stage so treatment can begin as soon as possible. As the disease progresses, the tiny blood vessels in your retina will become weaker and eventually, theyll begin to leak fluid, creating dark spots in your field of vision. During this stage, you might have blurry vision or large numbers of floaters, tiny dark spots that float across your field of view, and colors may appear faded and less vibrant. Over time, your vision loss will increase, and youll begin to notice dark areas or blind spots in your vision. In severe cases, scar tissue can tug on the retina, eventually causing retinal detachment and total loss of vision in the affected eye. How does an optometrist diagnose diabetic retinopathy? When you visit Ginter Eyecare Center, your optometrist will begin your exam by asking you about any symptoms you may be experiencing and by reviewing your medical history. Then, the doctor will perform a comprehensive eye exam to assess your vision and examine your Continue reading >>
What You Should Know About Diabetes And Eye Exams
Overview Diabetes is a disease that profoundly affects many areas of your body, including your eyes. It increases your risk for eye conditions, such as glaucoma and cataracts. The primary concern for eye health in people with diabetes is the development of diabetic retinopathy. Diabetic retinopathy is a condition that develops when the blood vessels in your retina become damaged. The retina is the light-sensitive portion of the back of your eye. As the damage worsens, you may begin losing your vision. Your eyesight may become blurry, less intense, and begin to disappear. This condition can affect people with type 1 or type 2 diabetes. The longer you live with diabetes, the more likely you are to develop complications like diabetic retinopathy. This is why adopting lifestyle changes and learning to manage diabetes is so important. In its earliest stages, diabetic retinopathy may cause no symptoms. The initial symptoms may be barely noticeable or mild. Over time, the condition can worsen and lead to partial and then complete blindness. You should see your doctor if you experience any of these symptoms: floaters, or dots and dark strings, in your field of vision dark or empty areas in your field of vision blurry vision difficulty focusing vision changes that seem to fluctuate altered color vision partial or total vision loss Diabetic retinopathy most often affects both eyes at the same time and in equal measure. If you’re experiencing issues with only one eye, it doesn’t mean you don’t have diabetic retinopathy. However, it might indicate another eye issue. Make an appointment to see your doctor to find an appropriate treatment plan. The buildup of excess sugar in your blood can lead to a number of health issues. In your eyes, too much glucose can damage the tiny ves Continue reading >>
Diabetic Retinal Eye Exam
June 2017 Diabetic retinal eye exam As you may know, national guidelines and the National Committee of Quality Assurance (NCQA) recognize the importance of screening people with diabetes annually for diabetic retinopathy through its inclusion in one of the Comprehensive Diabetes Care (CDC) measures. Similarly, Anthem has included retinal eye exams (either by dilation or photograph) for people with diabetes as one of the measures on the Enhanced Personal Health Care scorecard. What can you do to improve compliance rates? Talk to your patients with diabetes about the importance of getting an annual comprehensive eye exam including dilation. Since the retinal eye exam (DRE) is recommended by evidenced based clinical guidelines as a medically necessary part of a diabetic care plan, a member's medical benefits will cover the exam, subject to his or her share of the cost including co-pays and deductibles. A diabetic eye exam does NOT require vision benefits, as it is part of the medical benefit package. Patients should call Member Services on the back of their identification card for clarification around benefits. If you are a primary care doctor or endocrinologist, refer your patients with diabetes to an in-network ophthalmologist or optometrist, if they aren't already connected with an eye doctor. Follow-up with their eye doctor, as you would any other specialist. If you are an eye doctor, follow-up and provide the patient's test results to their primary care doctor and/or endocrinologist. Keep clear documentation in the patient's medical record: Clearly document referrals and eye exam and lab results. Document the date of the most recent diabetic eye exam with results and name of vision provider. Obtain and place a copy of diabetic eye exams performed by an optometrist or Continue reading >>
Diabetic Retinopathy - Exams And Tests
Diabetic retinopathy can be detected during a dilated eye exam by an ophthalmologist or optometrist. An exam by your primary doctor, during which your eyes are not dilated, is not an adequate substitute for a full exam done by an ophthalmologist. Eye exams for people with diabetes can include: Visual acuity testing. Visual acuity testing measures the eye's ability to focus and to see details at near and far distances. It can help detect vision loss and other problems. Ophthalmoscopy and slit lamp exam. These tests allow your doctor to see the back of the eye and other structures within the eye. They may be used to detect clouding of the lens (cataract), changes in the retina, and other problems. Gonioscopy. Gonioscopy is used to find out whether the area where fluid drains out of your eye (called the drainage angle) is open or closed. This test is done if your doctor thinks you may have glaucoma, a group of eye diseases that can cause blindness by damaging the optic nerve. Tonometry. This test measures the pressure inside the eye, which is called intraocular pressure (IOP). It is used to help detect glaucoma. Diabetes can increase your risk of glaucoma. Your doctor may also do a test called an optical coherence tomography (OCT) to check for fluid in your retina. Sometimes a fluorescein angiogram is done to check for and locate leaking blood vessels in the retina, especially if you have symptoms, such as blurred or distorted vision, that suggest damage to or swelling of the retina. Fundus photography can track changes in the eye over time in people who have diabetic retinopathy and especially in those who have been treated for it. Fundus photography produces accurate pictures of the back of the eye (the fundus). An eye doctor can compare photographs taken at different ti Continue reading >>
Faq
An Optometrist is a health care professional who is licensed to provide primary eye care services: to examine and diagnose eye diseases such as glaucoma , cataracts , and retinal diseases to diagnose related systemic conditions such as hypertension and diabetes that may affect the eyes to examine, diagnose and treat visual conditions such as nearsightedness , farsightedness , astigmatism and presbyopia ; and to prescribe glasses, contact lenses, low vision rehabilitation and medications as well as perform minor surgical procedures such as the removal of foreign bodies Ophthalmologists are medical doctors who have completed specialized residency training in the study, diagnosis, and treatment of eye disease. They are secondary-level health care providers and they usually use drugs and/or surgery for treatment. A person that requires ophthalmological care (to obtain cataract surgery, for example) usually requires a referral from the optometrist or family doctor. Opticians are technicians trained through a college program to fabricate and fit vision aids based on prescriptions from optometrists, ophthalmologists and physicians. Opticians are licensed to provide spectacles, and they may also dispense contact lenses and other optical aids. They do not assess, diagnose, or treat eye conditions, nor do they write out prescriptions for eyeglasses or contact lenses. Regular eye exams are recommended as early as 6 months of age. We recommend annual eye exams for children up to age 19. Adults aged 20 to 64 are recommended to come every 2 years, unless advised otherwise by their optometrist. Seniors 65 and over should visit their optometrist once every year. If you have any concerns about your eyes and vision, you may make an appointment to see your optometrist at any time between Continue reading >>
Diabetic Eye Exams In Plano And Celina, Tx
Diabetes has a variety of debilitating symptoms, including long-term vision loss, but optometry is one of our best defenses against it. Your eyes are often the first organs to show noticeable signs of diabetes or heightened risk factors, and if your optometrist detects these signs early enough, you can stave off the worst consequences with early treatment and symptom management. At Lone Star Vision in Plano, our eye doctors understand the important connection between optometry and diabetes. We offer comprehensive dilated eye exams to help our patients diagnose, manage, treat, and prevent diabetes. Importance of the Diabetic Eye Exam The American Diabetes Association recommends a dilated eye exam at least once a year for anyone with diabetes risk factors. Only optometrists or ophthalmologists may perform this full diabetic eye exam, because they have the training it takes to detect subtle changes in the back of the eye. Our eye doctors offer comprehensive diabetic eye exams in Plano and Celina, giving you information you can't get from vision tests with opticians or eye checkups by your regular physician. During each diabetic eye exam, we look for early warning signs of glaucoma, cataracts, diabetic retinopathy, and other eye problems that worsen over time and are common side effects of diabetes. If you've been diagnosed with diabetes, your doctor may recommend this eye exam to keep these symptoms manageable and prevent permanent vision loss. What is Diabetic Retinopathy? Your retina is responsible for sensing light and enabling clear vision. When your blood glucose is elevated for too long, it may weaken the blood vessels within your retina and cause tissue damage and fluid leakage. Diabetic retinopathy is the condition that results from this damage, and if fluids leak Continue reading >>
Optometrists Id Huge Number Of Patients With Undiagnosed Diabetes
Optometrists ID Huge Number of Patients With Undiagnosed Diabetes Doctors of optometry (OD) in the US picked up almost one-quarter of a million patients in 2014 alone who were found to have diabetes-related manifestations, which eventually led to a diagnosis of diabetes, but who had been unaware they had it and were thus not being treated, according to new research from the American Optometric Association (AOA). The survey was released to coincide with American Diabetes Month in November. "Yes, it is an amazing number, but people don't realize that doctors of optometry provide the majority of eye care in the US," AOA president Andrea Thau, OD, told Medscape Medical News in an interview. "We are in 6500 communities across the country, and as part of our comprehensive eye examination, we take detailed medical histories, we check blood pressure, we ask when patients were last seen by a physician and about their current health conditions as well as what medications they are on, because all of these things have an impact on eye and overall health," she explained. "And for many patients, we are sometimes the only medical providerbeing seen, and the number of people we found with previously undiagnosed diabetes gives you an idea of the magnitude of people who are not going for regular medical care," she stressed. Seeing Into the Body Without Being Invasive And Dr Thau pointed out, the eye is the only part of the body where practitioners can visualize blood vessels without cutting into the body. "What we are looking for are dilations of the vessels and small hemorrhages and leakages as early signs of change in the back of the eye," she explained. Doctors of optometry can also identify shifts or changes in a patient's refractive error when diabetes is not well controlled, she a Continue reading >>
What To Expect At Your Eye Exam
If you are lucky enough to have good eyesight, you may be surprised when your diabetes care team recommends that you make an appointment with an eye doctor. If your vision is stable, and your eyes don’t bother you, why should you have your eyes checked? The answer is that many potentially devastating eye problems develop without causing discomfort or distorting vision. Glaucoma and cataract are examples of eye problems that occur commonly in older adults and more frequently in people with diabetes. Generally, these conditions are treatable, but if not caught early enough, they can lead to vision loss or even blindness. In addition, there’s diabetic retinopathy, a serious complication that is more likely to occur in people with Type 1 diabetes but may develop in anyone with diabetes. Tight blood glucose control can significantly reduce the incidence and severity of diabetic retinopathy, but the only way to identify this and other eye problems in their earliest and most treatable stages is to have regular, comprehensive eye examinations. -- Keep an eye on your vision! Learn about preventive steps and treatments for diabetic retinopathy from retinal specialist Dr. Charles Wykoff. >> There’s no reason to avoid an eye exam; it involves a series of painless tests that check your visual acuity and general eye health and screen for signs of disease. Before we discuss what to expect at the exam, let’s take a look at the eye and how it works. The eye The eye is a hollow organ about the size of a Ping-Pong ball, with an opening at the front that lets in light, and a gelatinous substance called vitreous filling most of the inside. It functions in a manner similar to a camera. The aperture through which light enters the eye is the pupil, the black-seeming hole in the middle Continue reading >>
Diabetic Eye Exam | Wake Family Eye Care | Optometry | Cary, Nc
Diabetic Eye Exams Are Different From a Standard Eye Exam Since diabetes puts you at risk of diabetic eye disease, a diabetic eye exam involves a more thorough testing process. Well dilate your pupils, allowing us to get a better look at the inner workings of your eyes. In order to search for diabetic retinopathy, we closely inspect the health of your eyes blood vessels. We recognize that our patients needs vary greatly. Thats why weve made it a priority to invest in cutting edge technology that allows us to get all the information we need to thoroughly conduct a diabetic eye exam. Diabetic Retinopathy is the Leading Cause of Blindness in Diabetic Patients Although Diabetic Eye Disease is an umbrella term for a number of diseases resulting from diabetes, Diabetic Retinopathy is one of the most common and the most harmful. This particular disease develops when blood vessel walls in the retina are weakened due to prolonged exposure to glucose. Over time, this weakness progresses and can eventually cause leaks. In late stages, leakage causes dark spots in the sufferers vision. Not everyone with diabetes with develop diabetic retinopathy; there are a number of variables that influence how likely you are to get it. The type of diabetes you have and how long youve had it are contributing factors. Your chances of experiencing diabetic retinopathy also depend to some degree on how often your blood glucose changes, and how well youre managing your sugars. Symptoms of Diabetic Retinopathy Include: Continue reading >>
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Types Of Eye Doctors
There are several different types of eye doctors, a fact that is sometimes confusing to both patients and other health care professionals alike. This diversity is, in my view, advantageous for patients because each kind of eye care provider has unique strengths which, when use in a spirit of professional cooperation, combine to give all patients better care than the separate parts could on their own. Here is brief description of the various kinds of eye doctors: Optometrist - Optometrists are, most often, the eye care equivalent of the "family doctor." They are trained and licensed to diagnose and treat disorders and diseases of the eyes and visual system through non-surgical means, including the use of prescription eye drops (and oral medications in most states), as well as to detect the ocular manifestations of systemic disease (for example, diabetes) and refer patients to other health care specialists for eye surgery and/or further medical evaluation. Optometrists perform the majority of routine eye examinations in the United States. Optometrists are not medical doctors (M.D. degree), but doctors of optometry (O.D. degree). Becoming an optometrist requires four years of pre-medical undergraduate education (identical to medical doctors) and then an additional four years of optometry school. Optometry school education consists of courses in geometric, physical and physiological optics, ocular anatomy and physiology, general anatomy and physiology, general and ocular pathology, general and ocular pharmacology, ocular manifestations of systemic disease, binocular vision, vision therapy, pediatric vision, geriatric vision, refraction, cosmetic and medical contact lens applications, and specialized electrodiagnostic testing. The final two of four years is spent seeing pati Continue reading >>
How Do Eye Doctors Check For Diabetic Retinopathy?
Early treatment of serious diabetic retinopathy can improve the chance of saving your sight. For some people, diabetic retinopathy may be one of the first signs that they have diabetes. Adults and children who have diabetes should have a dilated eye exam at least once a year. If you have diabetic retinopathy, you may need to visit an eye doctor more often than once a year. This helps the doctor monitor the disease and determine the best treatment options. The eye doctor can decide if you need an eye exam more often. At a complete eye exam, called a dilated eye exam, the eye doctor widens the pupil of the eye with eye drops to allow a closer look at the inside of the eye. This exam may not be part of an eye exam for a new pair of eyeglasses or contact lenses. Dilated Eye Exam Credit: National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health The blood vessels in the eyes cannot be distinguished from the surrounding structure of the eye in conventional imaging techniques. Doctors can however document potential damage caused by diabetic retinopathy by injecting a substance that "lights up" the veins. This simple procedure provides a clear picture of the retinal blood vessels for diagnosis. Continue reading >>
Diabetic Eye Exam Vs Routine Exam
You should be clear on each one of these in addition to your specific eye details during the time of visit with the eye doctor. A diabetic eye exam often starts with an analysis of the external parts of the eyes, such as the cornea, the eyelids, the sclera, and so forth. From that point, the examination moves into a test of the eye's strength and ability to focus on both near and far objects such a test is referred to as a "visual acuity test." Up next is a "pupil function test" this test will determine the overall health of the pupil and detect any physical or neurological damage. After this, an "ocular motility test" (test to determine the eye's ability to follow fast-moving objects) will be carried out. This test is often employed when patients complain of double vision. There are other tests, such as the "visual field test," among others, that may be carried out on your eyes. The final eye exam will involve shining a bright light directly into your eye. This light is meant to illuminate your retina while the doctor uses a magnifying lens to look into your dilated pupils in order to examine the retinal surface. The doctor will hold your eye open with a device and press a lens against your eye to flatten the cornea while lasers are directed at the blood vessels. 2. Maintain a Healthy And Appropriate Weight If you're overweight, it's time to start shedding pounds. Performing regular exercises and changing your diet are still the best ways to achieve this. Fruits and vegetables are fully equipped with vitamins and nutrients that are required for maintaining good eye health. You could start by incorporating lots of fruits and vegetables into your daily diet. Fruits and vegetables are also rich in antioxidants, which can help avert damage to your eyes' lenses. Closing yo Continue reading >>
