There are usually no symptoms in the early stages of diabetic retinopathy, so your vision may not be affected until the disease becomes severe. More than a third of patients diagnosed with diabetes do not receive the recommended vision care, and as a result, may be at risk for blindness.
If you are a diabetic it is crucial to have a comprehensive eye examination every year. Diabetic patients are more prone to serious eye problems such as glaucoma and cataracts, making it very important to have a regular comprehensive diabetic eye exam. A diabetic eye examination will include a test to measure your eye pressure, a retinal exam to view the back of your eye, and an exam of the front of your eye.
Diabetic Retinopathy
Diabetic Retinopathy is the most common eye condition associated with diabetes. If you have diabetes, your body can’t regulate blood sugar levels correctly, and high blood sugar levels can cause damage to the blood vessels in your body, especially in the retina. The retina is the part of the eye that senses light and helps send images to the brain. Damage to the retina, known as Diabetic Retinopathy, can ultimately cause vision loss.
It is important to make an appointment with our retina eye doctors if you have been diagnosed with diabetes and experience blurred vision and floaters that:
- Affect only one eye
- Last more than a few days
- Are not associated with a change in blood sugar
To learn more about Diabetic Retinopathy please visit our section on Retina Services.
If you have diabetes it is important to have regular comprehensive eye exams to reduce your risk of permanent damage from diabetic retinopathy. To schedule an appointment with Benaim Eye please contact us at 561-747-7777.