Protect Your Vision From Diabetic Complications
Recent studies suggest that 1 in 3 Canadians lives with diabetes or pre-diabetes. Diabetes can impact your overall health, and your vision along with it.
Many people are aware of the ways that diabetes impacts overall health, but don’t always consider the impacts on vision and eye health. Truth be told, diabetes is the leading cause of blindness in Canadian adults.
People with diabetes are at an increased risk of developing vision problems. We recommend that those with diabetes have annual, comprehensive eye exams. Taking a proactive approach to health is important, especially if you’re dealing with diabetes.
Book your diabetic eye appointment today, and let us help you preserve your sight!
Request AppointmentWhat Is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a disease that impacts the production of insulin, a hormone that regulates your body’s blood sugar levels. If you have diabetes, your body either does not make insulin or doesn’t use it properly. This means too much sugar will stay in your bloodstream.
Over time, elevated blood sugar levels can lead to a variety of health issues, including vision problems. Even if you don’t notice any change in your vision, it’s still important to have your eyes examined regularly.
How Does Diabetes Affect Vision?
Diabetes can lead to serious vision problems and even blindness, so it’s important to book an annual eye exam to check for any changes. Visual issues caused by diabetes may include blurry vision, diabetic retinopathy, and diabetic macular edema.
Learn more about these eye conditions and their symptoms.
Blurry Vision
You may experience blurry vision as your body adjusts to your diabetes medication or changes in your health routine.
As well, elevated blood sugar can lead to a buildup of fluid in the eyes. Normally, the extra fluid is temporary, and your eyes will return to normal as your blood sugar stabilizes. However, you should still visit your optometrist to rule out more serious complications.
Diabetic Retinopathy
Diabetic retinopathy often progresses slowly and may not present detectable symptoms until irreversible vision loss occurs. The blood vessels in your retina swell as blood sugar levels elevate.
In the early stages of diabetic retinopathy, blurry vision is a common symptom. As the condition progresses, it gets more serious. Blood vessels break and bleed, leaking into the macula and causing vision loss.
Diabetic Macular Edema
Diabetic macular edema occurs when the macula swells. The macula is responsible for your central vision, so impairment can impact the ability to read, write, drive, and recognize faces. This condition is quite serious and can lead to blindness.
Book Your Diabetic Eye Exam Today!
If you have diabetes, getting your eyes examined regularly can help protect your sight. Close examination of the retina can help to detect any early signs of serious vision problems.
During a diabetic eye exam, we may dilate your pupils to see the back of the eye and its structures more clearly. Dilation is a simple procedure. We place a few drops into the eyes, and the pupils widen temporarily.
You may be more sensitive to sunlight after a dilated eye exam, so we suggest bringing sunglasses to your appointment.
Regularly scheduled diabetic eye exams protect your eye health. Book yours today.
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