Orange Beach, AL
Diabetic
Eye Exam
Orange Beach, AL
DIABETIC EYE EXAM
While many people know about the general health risks associated with diabetes, they often overlook its impact on vision. In fact, diabetes is a leading cause of blindness in adults. If you have diabetes, your risk of developing vision problems is significantly higher. That’s why we recommend scheduling annual comprehensive eye exams to stay on top of your eye health. Taking a proactive approach is essential when managing diabetes.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a condition that affects how your body produces or uses insulin, the hormone responsible for regulating blood sugar levels. Normally, when you eat, your body breaks down most of your food into glucose (sugar), which then enters the bloodstream. A rise in blood sugar triggers the pancreas to release insulin, allowing the sugar to enter your cells for energy.
If you have diabetes, your body either doesn’t produce enough insulin or can’t use it effectively. As a result, excess sugar remains in your bloodstream. Over time, high blood sugar levels can lead to various health complications, including vision problems. Even if you haven’t noticed any vision changes, it’s essential to have regular eye exams.
How does diabetes affect your vision?
Diabetes can result in severe vision loss and even blindness, which is why it’s crucial to schedule an annual eye exam to monitor for any changes. Some of the vision problems related to diabetes include:
Blurry vision
You may experience blurry vision when your body is adjusting to diabetes medication or changes in your health routine. Additionally, elevated blood sugar can cause fluid buildup in the eyes, often leading to temporary blurry vision. While this usually resolves as your blood sugar stabilizes, it’s still important to see your optometrist to check for underlying conditions.
Diabetic retinopathy
Diabetic retinopathy is a condition that often progresses slowly, with no visible symptoms until irreversible vision loss has occurred. It occurs when high blood sugar levels cause the blood vessels in your retina to swell. In the early stages of diabetic retinopathy, blurry vision is common. As the condition worsens, it becomes more severe. Blood vessels break and start to bleed into the macula, resulting in vision loss.
Diabetic macular edema
Diabetic macular edema occurs when swelling affects the macula, the part of the retina responsible for central vision. This swelling can severely impact your ability to read, write, drive, and recognize faces. If left untreated, diabetic macular edema can lead to blindness.
Schedule a diabetic eye exam in Orange Beach, AL
Keeping up with annual diabetic eye exams is one of the best ways to monitor your eye health and detect diabetic complications. Schedule an appointment today and let us help you preserve your eyesight.