Diabetes can profoundly affect your eyes, increasing your risk for glaucoma, cataracts, and diabetic retinopathy. Our team at Whitson Vision in Indianapolis and Avon, Indiana, specialize in diabetic eye exams so they can diagnose and treat potentially serious conditions as early as possible. If you have diabetes, it’s important to have regular eye exams to prevent irreversible damage that can lead to blindness. Call the friendly team today or request the next available appointment online to schedule a comprehensive diabetic eye exam.
When you come to Whitson Vision for a diabetic eye exam, Dr. Whitson and the team conduct a set of comprehensive tests using their state-of-the-art diagnostic equipment. They screen for a series of potential eye diseases that occur as a result of diabetes so they can identify problems early and prescribe effective treatments to prevent the conditions from worsening or causing irreversible damage to your eyes and vision.
A diabetic exam includes advanced screening for:
Our physicians also checks the overall health of your eyes and evaluates your vision and any trouble you may be having seeing clearly.
Diabetic retinopathy is an eye condition that affects people who have both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. It develops when the blood vessels in your retina become damaged as a result of diabetes. The retina is the light-sensitive part of the back of your eye that allows you to focus on images and send messages to your brain.
If your retina deteriorates, you can lose your vision. The longer you live with diabetes, the more susceptible you are to developing diabetic retinopathy.
Symptoms of diabetic retinopathy usually progress slowly and worsen over time if left untreated. Common signs of the condition include:
Diabetic retinopathy usually affects both eyes at the same time. If you experience any of these symptoms in either eye, a diabetic eye exam indicates the underlying cause.
According to the American Diabetes Association, if you’ve been diagnosed with diabetes, you should get a professional medical eye exam every year. Our physicians evaluate your eye health and your risk factors for developing diabetic eye diseases so they can recommend a regular exam schedule to monitor your eyes. Early detection of retinal abnormalities is the best way to keep diabetic eye conditions under control.
Making healthy lifestyle changes can also make an impact on how quickly diabetes affects your eyes. Learn more about what you can do to prevent vision loss by calling Whitson Vision or scheduling an appointment online today.
