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 >>
A Diabetic Eye Exam Is Important, Even If Your Vision Seems Okay
A Diabetic Eye Exam is Important, Even if Your Vision Seems Okay Scheduling a diabetic eye exam is important for all diabetics, regardless of their vision. In fact, we recommend that the examination take place at least every other year, though it may be necessary once a year. If a diabetic is experiencing changes to their vision, it is time to come in right away. Even if the appointment is last minute, any significant or noticeable vision changes require an assessment. Diabetes can lead to permanent eye damage and the best way to prevent it is to continue monitoring the eyes and to be aware of any significant changes for treatment to occur. It is also important for people to be aware that some eye conditions may not immediately impact eyesight. For example, cataracts and glaucoma are two eye problems that tend to happen with age and also impact diabetics on a regular basis. These eye problems are treatable so long as people seek eye treatment right away by an optometrist. If these problems remain undiagnosed, which is incredibly common, they can advance to the point that treatment is no longer an option and result in vision loss. In some situations, glaucoma can also lead to blindness. The key is early detection and treatment and there is no way to make sure early detection can happen without scheduling an annual diabetic eye exam. During a diabetic eye exam, we will test a person's field of vision that includes how much the person can see far away, up close and peripherally. In addition to this, it is important to test for glaucoma by assessing the amount of pressure inside the eye. The eye must have a steady amount of pressure to ensure that the surface of the eye does not become rumpled. If that pressure is too high, then it is going to press against the nerve. At t Continue reading >>
Importance Of Eye Exams For Diabetic Patients
Importance of Eye Exams for Diabetic Patients Home / Blog / Importance of Eye Exams for Diabetic Patients Most people think nothing of scheduling regular visits with the medical doctor or their dentist in order to make sure that they are physically fit and healthy and their teeth stay white, bright and cavity free. But, when it comes to their eye care they tend to only seek the services of an Ophthalmologist or Optometrist when they have specific concerns regarding their vision. Ophthalmologists differ from optometrists and opticians in their levels of training and in what they can diagnose and treat. As a medical doctor who has completed college and at least eight years of additional medical training, an ophthalmologist is licensed to practice medicine and surgery. The truth is, you should have an eye exam at least once a year.A comprehensive eye exam is more than simply checking your vision to see if you need glasses or not. During a comprehensive eye exam your doctor of Optometry will check your eye pressure, your eye muscle co-ordination and both your internal as well as your external eye health. A comprehensive eye exam is especially important if there is a family history of eye problems or if you have high blood pressure, diabetes, or any other health issue that could affect your vision. Yearly exams are especially important for those suffering from diabetes as catching diabetes related eye problems in their earliest stages may help to save your vision. Diabetic retinopathy is one of the most serious complications of diabetes which usually occurs in people with chronic diabetes. People with type 1 diabetes or type 2 diabetes are usually affected. Research has shown that retinopathy is one of the leading causes of blindness in the United States. According to diabe Continue reading >>
The Importance Of Annual Diabetic Eye Exams
Home Eye Care Services The Importance of Annual Diabetic Eye Exams The Importance of Annual Diabetic Eye Exams If you or a loved one suffers from diabetes, awareness of the threat of vision loss due to diabetic eye disease should be a top priority. Dont wait until it is too late to learn about the risks. Here are eight true and false questions about diabetic eye disease to test your knowledge. If you have any questions, contact your eye care professional to find out more. 1) Diabetic Retinopathy is the only eye and vision risk associated with diabetes. FALSE: People with diabetes have a higher risk of not only losing sight through diabetic retinopathy, but also a greater chance of developing other eye diseases such as cataracts and glaucoma. People with diabetes are 40% more likely to develop glaucoma and this number increases with age and the amount of time the individual has diabetes. Diabetics are also 60% more likely to develop cataracts and at an earlier age than those without diabetes. Additionally, during the advanced stages of diabetes, people can also lose corneal sensitivity and develop double vision from eye muscle palsies. 2) Diabetic retinopathy can cause blindness. True: In fact, diabetes is the leading cause of blindness in adults age 20 to 74. 3) With proper treatment, diabetic eye disease is reversible. FALSE: Although early detection and timely treatment can greatly reduce the chances of vision loss from diabetic eye disease, without prompt and preventative treatment measures, diabetic eye disease can result in permanent vision loss and even blindness. Currently, there is no cure that reverses lost eyesight from diabetic retinopathy; however, there are a variety of low vision aids that can improve quality of life for those with vision loss. 4) People Continue reading >>
Eye Exams For Diabetes | Winnipeg, Mb |henderson Vision Centre
Diabetes is linked with numerous eye diseases, including: diabetic retinopathy, diabetic macular edema (DME), cataracts , and glaucoma . Note that cataracts and glaucoma are not exclusively linked to diabetes, though diabetes is a major risk factor. All diseases linked with diabetes have the potential for serious or complete vision loss. High blood sugar from diabetes is associated with damaged to the blood vessels in the retina. It has four stages: Mild nonproliferative retinopathy Microaneurysms take place on the blood vessels within the retina, often leaking fluid. Moderate nonproliferative retinopathy Retinal blood starvation begins to set in as the blood vessels in the retina are inhibited from properly transporting blood. There are notable changes to the appearance of the retina. Severe nonproliferative retinopathy Blood-starved areas of the retina produce hormones that stimulate the growth of new blood vessels. Proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) Fluid is leaking from the new blood vessels. As the new blood vessels are weak, they often die leaving behind scar tissue. This scar tissue can peel back the retina, leading to retinal detachment (which causes complete blindness). Diagnosing & Treating Diabetic Retinopathy Diabetic retinopathy is generally diagnosed through a dilated eye exam. During a dilated eye exam the eyes are dilated using special eye drops. This dilation ensures that your pupil remains open, enabling us to better see the internal eye tissues. Ocular coherence tomography (also called OCT imaging) is also used to diagnose diabetic retinopathy. This test creates detailed images of the eye and its internal structures, including areas where blood vessels are damaged or showing signs of retinopathy. Detecting retinopathy in its early stages is the Continue reading >>
Abc’s Of Diabetic Eye Disease
Author: Dr. Jordan Graff Managing diabetes requires special attention to personal health and irregular symptoms. However, not all complications caused by diabetes are obvious. Diabetic eye disease leading to diabetic retinopathy, cataract and glaucoma can be sight-threatening if it is not identified and treated early. Regular eye care visits with an optometrist or ophthalmologist should be part of a diabetic’s management routine in addition to daily monitoring and a primary care visits. The following facts and reminders can prevent diabetic eye disease from developing: Asymptomatic: People that have diabetics can develop serious eye diseases through minor eye disorders that often show no symptoms in the early stages of the disease. As a result, diabetic retinopathy is the most common diabetic eye disease and is the leading cause of blindness in American adults ages 20 to 74, according to the National Eye Institute. All people living with diabetes –type 1 and type 2 – are at risk of diabetic retinopathy. Those diagnosed with diabetes should not wait for the symptoms to appear, as there is no pain and vision may not change until the disease becomes severe. Book annual dilated eye exams: All patients that have diabetes should have a comprehensive dilated eye exam at least once a year for early detection. Since there are no symptoms, an eye health specialist can recognize and diagnose the following through a dilated eye exam: Cataract – clouding of the lens of the eye. Diabetes can cause cataracts in patients at a much younger age. Typically cataracts affect those between the ages of 70 and 80; however those with diabetes can contract the disease as early as 35. Micro aneurysms – tiny dots of hemorrhaging in the back of the eye. Macular edema – occurs when the m Continue reading >>
Diabetes Diagnosis? Why It Is Important To Schedule An Eye Exam
Diabetes Diagnosis? Why it is Important to Schedule an Eye Exam A diabetes diagnosis can be a life-changing experience. Not only do you need to make changes to your dietary choices, but you also need to keep track of medications and doctors visits. Diabetes impacts the way the body stores and uses sugar, which can have a domino effect on all systems within the body. Even though you are working with your primary care doctor, you shouldnt overlook the benefits of an exam with an eye doctor as well. Diabetic eye disease is a common problem. But, early treatments can be used to minimize the damage to your eyes. This term refers to a group of eye conditions that often occur in people who have diabetes. Diabetic eye disease can encompass a variety of problems, including diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, cataracts, and diabetic macular edema. Diabetic retinopathy is the most common type of diabetic eye disease. Chronically high blood sugar levels can cause the blood vessels in the retina to change. Eventually, the blood vessels can be damaged and leak fluid, which can eventually lead to a loss of vision. Why You Need Regular Visits with an Optometrist Early symptoms of diabetic retinopathy are difficult to detect. Most people dont notice a change in their eyes until it is too late. So, the best thing that you can do is maintain regular eye exams if you have been diagnosed with diabetes. These appointments enable the optometrist to diagnose eye conditions in the early stages, helping with the long-term prognosis for your vision. Taking control of your blood sugar levels can help to control and minimize the damage that is done to your vision. It is important that you stick to a healthy diet, use prescribed medication as directed, and maintain a regular exercise routine. Additiona Continue reading >>
The Importance Of Diabetic Eye Exams
Monday, November 16th, 2015 by Dr. Harshman Diabetic eye disease is the number one cause of blindness and vision loss in working-age adults. People with diabetes are at risk of several conditions that, when detected early, can be treated to reduce vision loss. Diabetic retinopathy affects 5.3 million Americans 18 years of age and older. Diabetic retinopathy occurs when the blood vessels in the retina, the light sensitive tissue in the back part of your eye, become damaged and leak resulting in blurred vision and vision loss. Diabetics are also twice as likely to get cataracts and glaucoma than someone without the disease. Cataracts develop and cause your eye lens to become cloudy, interfering with your vision. Glaucoma damages the optic nerve which can also cause vision loss. The longer someone has diabetes means a greater the likelihood that these complications could occur. In early stages of diabetic eye disease, there are sometimes no indicators that there is a problem. There are no symptoms or pain. Vision can start to blur as the blood vessels weaken, which is why it is so important for diabetic patients to see their eye doctor regularly. A dilated eye exam (or optomap exam) can detect diabetic eye disease in the retina before vision loss occurs. The earlier the detection can meana more positive outcome of treatment. There are several treatments for diabetic retinopathy including laser eye surgery or pharmaceutical injections that prevent fluid leakage that can improve vision. Ways to prevent diabetic eye disease coincide with the managing of diabetes altogether: controlling blood sugar, blood pressure and cholesterol; maintaining a healthy diet and exercise;and having regular eye exams to monitor the disease. If you have diabetes, it is important to schedule year Continue reading >>
Diabetic Eye Exam Colorado Springs | Best Diabetic Eye Doctors In Co
Did you know that if you have diabetes, either type 1 or type 2, you may need a more comprehensive eye exam or more frequent eye exams than patients who do not have this disease? Did you know that early detection and treatment of diabetic eye disease will reduce your chance of losing your vision due to diabetes? There are several eye conditions for which patients with diabetes need surveillance examinations. Diabetic retinopathy is, of course, the biggest concern, but diabetics also have higher risk for cataracts, double vision, and glaucoma as well. It is crucial that you do not wait for symptoms of poor vision if you have diabetes. Often there are no symptoms at all with the early stages of diabetic eye disease, when it is easier to control. It is important to get a comprehensive diabetic eye exam on a regular basis if you are a patient living with diabetes. Our Colorado Springs eye doctors specialize in treatment of eye disease and medical eye conditions and see hundreds of patients for diabetic eye exams each year. An early diabetic eye exam can prevent 95% of vision loss When your body is unable to properly store sugar due to diabetes, the blood vessels in your eyes are often damaged from the effects of circulating sugar on their cells, and the blood flow is compromised. Sometimes people with advanced stages of diabetes will have new blood vessels grow over the retina along with fibrosis or scar tissue. This scar tissue can pull your retina away from your eye wall, causing a retinal detachment a serious condition that can lead to blindness if left untreated. Glaucoma can develop in patients with diabetes. One reason for this can be new blood vessels growing on the iris due to damage of the existing circulation. These abnormal vessels, called neovascularization or Continue reading >>
Protect Your Eyes: The Importance Of Comprehensive Eye Exams For Those With Diabetes
Home Whats New Protect Your Eyes: The Importance Of Comprehensive Eye Exams For Those With Diabetes Protect Your Eyes: The Importance Of Comprehensive Eye Exams For Those With Diabetes Diabetes is a condition in which the body is unable to properly use and store glucose, a form of sugar meant to be used by the body for energy to perform various bodily functions. As a result, this sugar accumulates in the bloodstream and causes ones blood sugar level to rise to higher than normal levels. This can cause many complications throughout the body, especially in the eyes. Proper diabetic eyecare involves comprehensive eye exams at least once a year in order to minimize the risk of diabetes related eye conditions going undetected and untreated. Dr. Scott Frick of Maple Grove Vision Clinicin Maple Grove, Minnesota states, Diabetes is the leading cause of blindness in adults between the ages of 20 and 74. Between the years 2005 and 2008, 4.2 million diabetes patients in the United States developed a serious diabetes related eye condition called diabetic retinopathy. This is an eye condition in which high blood sugar levels cause blood vessels in the eye to begin leaking fluids or to become completely closed off. Without proper care, this condition can cause severe vision loss or even blindness. People with diabetes have also proven to be at increased risk of glaucoma and early development of cataracts. Despite this, 1 in 4 people with diabetes fail to follow their optometrist's recommendation to have a comprehensive eye exam at least once a year, leading to irreversible loss of vision and other dire consequences. Since many diabetes related conditions show no symptoms until significant damage has already been done, early detection is essential. Early detection of diabetes related Continue reading >>
Eye Health: The Importance Of Annual Eye Exams
Eye Health: The Importance of Annual Eye Exams Eye Health // News // Patient Care // May 21 2017 Its easy to forget to have an eye exam. After all, if you can see, theres nothing that can be wrong, right? Not quite. There are many eye problems that are not noticeable to the patient, but that are already causing problems, says Tracy Klein, OD, an optometrist who practices at UW Health Specialty Clinic in Prairie du Sac and at UW Health Deming Way Eye Clinic in Middleton. Even some people who wear glasses or contacts only go in to have their vision checked. A comprehensive eye exam from an optometrist or ophthalmologist can detect eye problems before they steal your vision. Adults and young adults should have a baseline eye exam if they have not been to an eye doctor in a few years, Dr. Klein says. At that exam, an optometrist or ophthalmologist will measure vision (performing a refraction) and will ask personal and family medical history questions. Those questions will be about vision issues, of course, but also about a history of diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease and other factors that may contribute to vision loss. At that appointment, your eye doctor also will recommend a frequency for follow-up exams based on your medical history. For example, a person with diabetes needs a dilated eye exam every year. This is important for checking for damage, which can be slowed, but not reversed. People who wear contact lenses also need exams every year, to look for changes that might affect lens fit and eye health. Eye doctors also look for clinical findings, such as thinning of the retina and high refractive error, both of which may increase risk for retinal tears and detached retina. Pigmentary changes may increase risk of glaucoma, in which the optic nerve is damag Continue reading >>
8 Important Diabetes Tests To Get Regularly
Type 2 diabetes can affect every part of your body, from your eyes to your feet. A critical part of managing diabetes is getting routine tests and checkups that can spot problems early to help prevent complications. “Too often, if someone isn’t seeing the same doctor routinely, these important tests can get overlooked,” says Diana Aby-Daniel, PA-C, a physician assistant at the Harold Schnitzer Diabetes Health Center at Oregon Health & Science University in Portland. “Many diabetes complications are preventable if they’re found early with one of these routine tests.” The following eight diabetes exams and tests will help you get the health care you need: 1. A1C test. This key blood test measures your average blood sugar levels over the previous two or three months, which lets your doctor know how well your blood sugar is being controlled. You should get this test twice a year, if not more often, according to the American Diabetes Association (ADA). “Try to get your A1C results below or as close to 7 percent as possible,” says George L. King, MD, director of research and head of the section on vascular cell biology at Joslin Diabetes Center and professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School in Boston. Talk to your doctor about the A1C goal that’s right for you. You can get this test through your primary care doctor. 2. Blood pressure checks. Diabetes makes you more likely to have high blood pressure, which can put you at increased risk for stroke and heart attack. Have your blood pressure checked every time you see your primary care doctor, Dr. King says. 3. Cholesterol test. Because having diabetes increases your risk of heart disease, it’s important to have a blood test to check your cholesterol as part of your annual exam or more frequently if your Continue reading >>
Annual Eye Exams Can Detect Diabetic Eye Disease
Having an eye exam each year is important for people with diabetes. Diabetes that is not well managed can lead to diabetic retinopathy and other eye-related problems. An annual eye exam can help detect diabetic eye diseases so they can be treated early. A description of diabetes Diabetes causes people to have too much sugar in their blood. This happens when people aren’t producing insulin in their bodies (Type 1) or when the body is resistant to insulin (Type 2). Insulin is a hormone that helps reduce sugar (also called glucose) in the blood stream. Too much glucose can lead to serious health issues, affecting the heart, kidneys and eyes. Diabetic eye diseases Diabetic retinopathy is a serious concern for people with diabetes and the number-one cause of vision loss. If a person’s blood sugar level is not in control and remains chronically high, blood vessels in the eye can be damaged and impair vision, potentially resulting in blindness. Another concern is diabetic macular edema, which can occur when high blood sugar causes fluid to seep into the retina. Get annual eye exams Doctors recommend that adults with diabetes get an annual dilated eye exam to check for micro-vascular issues that affect people with diabetes. The eye doctor checks the retina (back of the eye) for signs of retinopathy, as well as the macula (center of the retina) for diabetic macular edema. At an annual eye exam, the eye doctor will: Dilate your eyes to look at the retinas See if you need corrective lenses Check your eye pressure for signs of glaucoma Identify other concerns unrelated to diabetes, such as cataracts and dry eye Manage your diabetes To stay healthy, it is important to: Test your blood sugar regularly Take the medicines prescribed by your doctor to help manage your blood sugar Ea Continue reading >>
Why Are Eye Exams Important?
Regardless of your age or physical health, an annual comprehensive eye exam will help to detect any eye problems at their early stages when they're most treatable. During a comprehensive eye exam, your eye doctor will not only determine your prescription for eyeglasses or contact lenses, but will also check your eyes for common eye diseases, assess how your eyes work together as a team and evaluate your eyes as an indicator of your overall health. Who should get their eyes examined? Eye examinations are an important part of health maintenance for everyone. Adults should have their eyes tested to keep their prescriptions current and to check for early signs of eye disease. For children, eye exams can play an important role in normal development and learning. Vision is closely linked to the learning process. Children who have trouble seeing or interpreting what they see will often have trouble with their schoolwork. Many times, children will not complain of vision problems simply because they don't know what "normal" vision looks like. If your child performs poorly at school or exhibits a reading or learning problem, be sure to schedule an eye examination to rule out an underlying visual cause. What is the eye doctor checking for? In addition to evaluating whether you have nearsightedness, farsightedness or astigmatism, your eye doctor will check your eyes for eye diseases and other problems that could lead to vision loss. Here are some examples of the conditions that your eye doctor will be looking for: Amblyopia: This occurs when the eyes are misaligned or when one eye has a much different prescription than the other. The brain will "shut off" the image from the turned or blurry eye. If left untreated, amblyopia can stunt the visual development of the affected eye, resu Continue reading >>
Eye Exams With Diabetes Why They Re Important | Diabetic Connect
Kate Cornell was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in June of 2005. Since then, she has controlled diabetes through dietary changes, exercise, and, more recently, metformin. She shares her experiences and lessons learned here and on her blog, kates-sweet-success.blogspot.com, which was named as one of the top diabetes blogs for 2015 by Healthline.com. Our vision is precious, but it can be threatened by diabetes. Diabetic retinopathy can occur with diabetes, so its important to have your eyes examined on a regular basis. Glaucoma and cataracts are also conditions that can occur. According to this article , people who are diagnosed with type 2 diabetes should have their eyes examined soon after diagnosis and every year thereafter. Those with type 1 diabetes should have their eyes examined yearly beginning when they are 10 years old. Be sure to see an ophthalmologist, as they are specialists in medical and surgical issues with the eyes. The eye contains tiny blood vessels that feed the eye and nerves that send images to your retina. High blood sugars can cause these tiny blood vessels to burst, causing spots in your vision. If left untreated, it can lead to blocked vision, scar tissue, detached retina, and macular edema. The good news is that controlling your blood sugar to the best of your ability can help stave off these harmful conditions. Regular eye exams will also help your doctor detect these problems early. There are procedures that can help if things get worse, like laser procedures or more invasive surgeries to fix the retina. Its also good to know that your medical insurance will pay for yearly eye exams when you have diabetes, so lack of vision insurance is no excuse to avoid seeing an eye doctor. Yes, it can be depressing to think about all the things that can g Continue reading >>
