How Often Should Diabetics Get Eye Exams?
If you have diabetes, you likely already monitor your blood sugar and general health – but are you also keeping tabs on your eyesight?
Diabetic eye care is an essential yet often overlooked aspect of diabetes management. Regular eye exams protect your sight and prevent irreversible damage from conditions like diabetic retinopathy, macular edema, and glaucoma.
At Central Valley Eye Medical Group, we provide expert support guided by our team of fellowship-trained, board-certified ophthalmologists. With subspecialty care in retina, glaucoma, and cornea surgery, we deliver personalized eye health solutions to patients throughout the San Joaquin Valley.
Why Eye Exams Are Critical for Diabetics
Diabetes affects the body’s blood vessels, including the delicate ones in your eyes. Over time, high blood sugar levels can cause these vessels to swell, leak, or close off completely, leading to vision loss.
Eye complications linked to diabetes include:
- Diabetic retinopathy: Damaged blood vessels in the retina that can cause blindness.
- Diabetic macular edema (DME): Fluid buildup in the retina leading to blurriness.
- Cataracts and glaucoma: More likely to occur and progress faster in diabetic patients.
Diabetic eye disease often develops without early symptoms, making routine eye exams vital. Early detection can help slow or prevent vision loss.
How Often Should You Get an Eye Exam?
The American Diabetes Association recommends the following:
- Type 1 diabetes: First exam within five years of diagnosis, then annually.
- Type 2 diabetes: Comprehensive dilated eye exam at diagnosis, then annually.
- More frequent exams: If signs of diabetic eye disease are present or worsening.
If you’re pregnant with diabetes, you may also need additional evaluations throughout your pregnancy.
What to Expect During a Diabetic Eye Exam
A comprehensive diabetic eye exam includes:
- Dilated eye assessment to check the retina and optic nerve
- Visual acuity test to measure sight sharpness
- Intraocular pressure check for signs of glaucoma
- Retinal imaging or optical coherence tomography (OCT)
At Central Valley Eye Medical Group, we use advanced diagnostic tools that allow for early detection and in-depth monitoring.
Schedule Your Diabetic Eye Exam Today
Don’t wait until symptoms appear. Stay ahead of potential vision loss with routine diabetic eye exams.
Call Central Valley Eye Medical Group at 1.800.244.9907 to schedule your appointment in Stockton, Modesto, or Manteca.
Posted in: Eye Care
