If you have diabetes, an annual eye exam is the most effective way to determine whether your blood sugar levels are affecting the health of your eyes. Even if your eyes and vision seem okay, you could be developing the early, often asymptomatic, stages of a diabetes-related eye condition.
For individuals with diabetes, dilated eye exams are essential for maintaining the quality of their vision. Keep reading to learn about the eye health challenges faced by those with diabetes and how often they should schedule an eye exam with dilation.
How is Diabetes Related to Eye Health?
If not properly managed, diabetes can have a significant impact on eye health, leading to serious eye conditions that can cause vision loss and lead to permanent blindness.
High blood sugar levels are commonly perceived as the cause of damaged blood vessels throughout the body, including those in the eyes. Damaged blood vessels can leak blood and fluids, increasing intraocular pressure and causing inflammation. However, there are other, more insidious factors that can also cause blood vessel damage, even without consistently elevated blood sugar levels.
These risk factors can also encourage the growth of abnormal blood vessels. These secondary vessels are typically weaker than normal blood vessels, limiting their function and durability.
What Eye Conditions Can Diabetes Cause?
Tests performed during a diabetic eye exam look for the signs and symptoms of diabetes-related eye conditions, including:
Diabetic Retinopathy
Diabetic retinopathy is the most common diabetic eye disease and a leading cause of blindness in American adults. It occurs when high blood sugar causes leakage, bleeding, and abnormal blood vessel growth that damages the retina, the structure in the eye responsible for converting light entering the eye into visual images.
Macular Edema
Fluid from leaking blood vessels in the retina can pool in the macula, the part of the retina responsible for central vision. As the macula swells, a condition called edema, the ability to see clearly can be adversely affected.
Cataracts, Glaucoma, and Macular Degeneration
The damage to the eye caused by high blood sugar increases the chances that those with diabetes will develop common age-related eye conditions, often much earlier than would be naturally expected. These conditions can further increase the risk of permanent vision loss for people with diabetes.
Dry Eye Syndrome
People with diabetes are twice as likely to develop dry eye syndrome, which can cause symptoms such as dryness, burning, stinging, excessive watering, and eye fatigue. High blood sugar levels can also increase the risk of eye infections for people with dry eyes.
Diabetic Eye Exam Guidelines
For most individuals with diabetes, the risk of vision loss associated with diabetes-related eye conditions necessitates an annual dilated eye exam. The American Diabetes Association recommends the following eye exam guidelines:
Type 1 Diabetes: People with Type 1 diabetes should have a dilated eye exam within five years of their initial diagnosis. Depending on the findings of the first exam, an eye doctor can decide how frequently future exams should be scheduled. Whitson Vision suggests annual eye exams as soon as the initial diagnosis of diabetes is made.
Type 2 Diabetes: People with Type 2 diabetes should have a dilated eye exam as soon as they are diagnosed. A Type 2 diagnosis increases the chances of an eye doctor finding evidence of an existing diabetes-related eye condition.
Most people with Type 2 diabetes will need to have a dilated eye exam at least once a year. Serious eye conditions can be asymptomatic in their earliest stages, so an annual exam can help ensure they are caught and treated as early as possible.
Pregnancy with Diabetes: Women who have diabetes and are pregnant should have an eye exam during their first trimester and again in their last trimester. Pregnancy can increase the pressure on blood vessels throughout the eyes, increasing the risk of developing a diabetes-related eye condition or complicating an existing condition.
What Happens During a Diabetic Eye Exam?
Four non-invasive tests are a routine part of any diabetic eye exam. These tests include:
Visual Acuity Test
During this test, your eye doctor will test your vision by performing a refraction to determine if glasses or any update in prescription is required.
Tonometry
This test measures eye pressure. Elevated eye pressure can be a symptom of glaucoma.
Retinal Imaging
This test involves using an imaging device to create a detailed image of the structures of the eye to detect subtle changes in eye health.
Dilated Eye Exam
After applying special eye drops to enlarge the pupil, the back of the eye will be examined to detect any signs of swelling in the retina, leaking blood vessels, nerve damage, or other signs of eye conditions that are more common in people with diabetes.
A diabetic eye exam with dilation takes about one to two hours to complete. Pupils gradually return to their regular size as the dilating eye drops wear off. Some people with lighter colored eyes may still have partially dilated pupils the next day.
Can You Prevent Diabetes-Related Eye Conditions?
While it may not be possible to prevent a diabetes-related eye condition completely, here are some of the things individuals with diabetes can do to lower their risk:
- Schedule dilated eye exams as recommended by your eye doctor
- Maintain blood sugar levels within your target range
- Keep blood pressure and cholesterol levels under control to minimize blood vessel damage
- Take prescribed medications for diabetes and other chronic health conditions as directed
- Eat a balanced diet and limit sugar, salt, and saturated fats
- Regularly engage in moderate exercise
- Quit smoking
- Ask your doctor whether certain supplements, including vitamins A, B1, and C, could help protect you against diabetes-related eye conditions
- Stay in contact with your primary care doctor
Many diabetes-related eye conditions exhibit no noticeable symptoms in their earliest stages, making early diagnosis crucial for preventing vision loss. An annual dilated eye exam is one of the best ways to protect the health of your eyes if you have diabetes.
Do you have diabetes? Has it been a while since your last eye exam? Schedule an appointment at Whitson Vision in Indianapolis or Avon IN, today!
