Diabetic eye exams.
Diabetes can affect the eyes before vision changes become noticeable. Regular eye examinations help look for retinal changes and guide the next step in protecting sight.
Why eye examinations matter.
Diabetes affects how the body regulates blood sugar. Over time, high blood sugar can damage small blood vessels in the retina and lead to diabetic retinopathy. Without appropriate care, this can cause lasting vision loss.
Early changes may have no obvious symptoms. Regular examinations help your eye doctor look for damage before you notice a change in sight.
Understanding diabetic retinopathy.
The retina is the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye. It turns light into signals that travel through the optic nerve to the brain.
Its small blood vessels need to function well. Persistently high blood sugar can damage them, allowing fluid or blood to leak, causing swelling or reducing the blood supply. More advanced changes can lead to scarring and threaten vision.
Who needs closer attention.
Anyone with type 1 or type 2 diabetes can develop diabetic retinopathy. Risk is influenced by how long you have had diabetes, blood sugar, blood pressure and cholesterol. Pregnancy can also change the examination needs of someone with diabetes.
Tell your eye doctor about your diabetes history, recent health changes and other clinicians involved in your care. Follow the examination schedule recommended for your condition.
What an eye examination may include.
A diabetic eye examination can be part of a comprehensive examination. Your clinician assesses vision, the retina and other eye structures, with examination and imaging selected for your needs.
Dilating drops widen the pupil so the back of the eye can be examined. The drops may briefly sting and can cause temporary light sensitivity or blurred near vision. Retinal photographs or other imaging may help document findings when appropriate. Some retinal cameras use a brief flash when taking a photograph.
Visual acuity testing checks how well you see at distance and near. The exact tests depend on your eye-health history and examination findings. Tell the team if you feel discomfort.
After the examination.
Your eye doctor will explain the findings and whether monitoring, further testing or specialist care is needed. Managing blood sugar, blood pressure and cholesterol remains important alongside eye care.
Some retinal changes need treatment such as injections, laser procedures or surgery from a specialist. If specialist treatment is recommended, ask about its goal, follow-up and expected results.
Keep regular dilated eye examinations even when your vision seems unchanged, and contact your eye doctor if you notice new vision symptoms.