Comprehensive Eye Care For Those With Diabetes

Millions of Americans are at risk for vision loss due to diabetes. If you live with diabetes, you must monitor this risk by seeing your eye doctor regularly.

Diabetes can lead to eye diseases like glaucoma, cataracts, diabetic retinopathy, and diabetic macular edema. Since these diseases may not display symptoms before permanently affecting your eyesight, eye exams are the best way to catch them early and control their effects.

How long has it been since your last eye exam? Contact us today and schedule a diabetic eye exam in Rancho Santa Margarita.

Common Diabetic Eye Diseases

Diabetic Retinopathy & Diabetic Macular Edema

Diabetic retinopathy occurs when high blood sugar from diabetes damages the retina. The blood vessels that nourish your retina swell and eventually break, leaking blood into the eye. New blood vessels then form on the retina, but they are typically weaker and continue to bleed, creating scar tissue that affects your vision.

When left untreated, diabetic retinopathy can lead to swelling in the macula. The macula is responsible for central vision, which we rely on to read, drive, and recognize faces. Diabetic macular edema is the name of the resulting condition, which can make many everyday tasks significantly more difficult.

Glaucoma

Glaucoma is a group of diseases related to optic nerve damage. In many cases, this damage is caused by high pressure within the eye. Some types of glaucoma develop gradually, while others are acute and require immediate medical attention.

People with diabetes are twice as likely as others to experience open-angle glaucoma, which is the most common kind. Since this type of glaucoma typically has no obvious symptoms until permanent vision loss begins, anyone living with diabetes should take extra care to maintain a regular eye exam schedule. Our eye doctors have the tools and knowledge to notice signs of glaucoma that won’t be apparent to you or others.

Cataracts

Cataracts make the lens of your eye cloud over and obscure your vision over time. They typically appear later in life, but people with diabetes are more likely to develop them at younger ages.

Many cataracts can be successfully removed with surgery. Cataract surgery involves replacing the cloudy lens of your eye with an artificial one that lets you see clearly again.

How Often Should You Have Eye Exams if You Have Diabetes?

We recommend that all people with diabetes have annual eye exams to monitor their eyes for early signs of disease. The earlier we catch a problem, the easier it will be for us to treat it or follow its progress.

Eye exams can also detect diabetes in some people who don’t know they have it. Following eye doctors’ advice and scheduling regular eye exams supports ideal ocular health and vision for everyone.

When was your last eye exam? Book your next appointment with us today.

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