Diabetes can impact various aspects of your health, including your vision.  Beyond being more susceptible to specific eye diseases compared to the general population, individuals with diabetes face diabetes-specific conditions that require early diagnosis to minimize the risk of permanent vision impairment or blindness. However, with regular diabetic eye exams, these complications can be detected and managed early, helping individuals with diabetes maintain their vision and quality of life.

At Lifetime Vision, we are committed to the well-being of our community, and that includes providing specialized diabetic eye exams .  We strongly recommend that patients with diabetes undergo a comprehensive diabetic eye exam at least once per year. Given the increased vulnerability to certain diseases associated with diabetes, our exams are specifically tailored to detect even the most subtle signs of diabetic retinopathy and diabetic macular edema, in addition to assessing overall eye health and visual acuity.

What's a diabetic eye exam?

A diabetic eye exam is a comprehensive eye evaluation specifically tailored for individuals with diabetes. It goes beyond a routine eye check-up and includes specialized tests to assess the health of the eyes and detect any diabetes-related eye conditions. During the exam, Dr. Tran will begin by applying eye drops to dilate your pupils, allowing for a more detailed examination of your eyes. Utilizing advanced visual imaging technology, we can examine your eyes with remarkable precision. This high level of accuracy allows us to diagnose eye diseases weeks, months, or even years before symptoms manifest.

Type of diabetic eye diseases

1. Diabetic retinopathy: This is the most common cause of vision loss for people with diabetes.  It occurs when high blood sugar levels damage blood vessels in the retina, the part of your eye that detects light and sends signals to your brain through a nerve in the back of your eye (optic nerve). There are two types of diabetic retinopathy:
   • Non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR: This is the early stage, where small blood vessels in the retina leak.
   • Proliferative diabetic retinopathy: In this advanced stage, weakened blood vessels around the retina not only leak blood and fluids but eventually die, forming scar tissue. This scar tissue can contract, tugging at the retina and posing a risk of retinal detachment, potentially causing total blindness.
2. Diabetic Macular Edema (DME): This is a complication of diabetic retinopathy. It occurs when fluid leaks into the macula (the central part of the retina), causing swelling and vision problems.

3. Cataracts: While cataracts are a common age-related condition, people with diabetes are more likely to develop them at an earlier age and have them progress faster.

4. Glaucoma: Having diabetes nearly doubles your risk of developing a type of glaucoma called open-angle glaucoma.

5. Blurred Vision: Fluctuations in blood sugar levels can cause temporary changes in the shape of the eye's lens, leading to blurred vision.

6. Retinal Detachment: In some cases, diabetic retinopathy can lead to the pulling away of the retina from the back of the eye, which can lead to severe vision loss.

Symptoms of Diabetic Retinopathy

• Blurred or Fuzzy Vision: This can happen when the blood vessels in the retina are damaged, causing fluid to leak into the eye.

• Floaters: These are small specks or spots that appear to float in your field of vision. They're caused by small bits of protein or cells floating in the vitreous humor (the gel-like substance that fills the eye).

• Impaired Color Vision: You might have difficulty distinguishing colors or notice that colors appear faded or washed out.

• Dark or Empty Spots in Vision: Areas of your visual field might seem to have missing or darkened areas.

• Difficulty Seeing at Night: This can be due to the reduced ability of the retina to detect light.

• Fluctuating Vision: Vision might change throughout the day, particularly if blood sugar levels are not well-controlled.

• Vision Loss: In severe cases, untreated diabetic retinopathy can lead to significant vision loss or even blindness.

Am I at risk for diabetic retinopathy?

What can I do to prevent diabetic retinopathy?

What’s the treatment for diabetic retinopathy?