How Diabetes Affects Your Eye Health

Diabetes can put you at risk for serious eye conditions such as glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy. That's why it's important to schedule regular eye examinations with your local Calgary optometrist.

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Yearly eye exams are important for much more than simply updating the prescription of your eyeglasses. They are also a great way to protect your overall well-being.

A routine eye examination can detect signs of serious health conditions, including:

• brain tumours
• diabetes
• high cholesterol
• thyroid disease
• oral melanoma/skin cancer

Comprehensive Eye Care at Sunridge Eye Clinic

From helping you select the right pair of eyeglasses to glaucoma testing and diabetic retinal examinations, our Calgary eye doctors are passionate about protecting both the vision and overall health of your entire family.

Want to know how we can help protect your sight?

 

3 Eye Conditions That Can Result From Untreated Diabetes

Along with an increased risk for heart disease, stroke and kidney disease, diabetes also increases your risk for certain eye conditions. These include:

 

1. Diabetic Retinopathy

This is the most common type of diabetic eye disease and a leading cause of blindness. It is characterized by the leaking of blood vessels in the retina and can lead to symptoms such as:

• distorted/blurred vision
• floaters
• seeing dark spots or patches
• loss of vision
• reduction in night vision

If you have diabetes and are experiencing any of the above, it’s important to visit your eye doctor AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

Diabetic Retinal Examinations

At Sunridge Eye Clinic, our optometrists can perform comprehensive diabetic retinal examinations to screen for, diagnose and manage diabetic retinopathy to prevent any vision loss.

This includes:

• A visual acuity test
• Tonometry (to measure the pressure in your eye)
• Pupil dilation

REMEMBER: Early detection and treatment of this eye condition can reduce your risk of blindness by 95%. That’s why it’s important to schedule a diabetic retinal examination at least once a year.

 

2. Cataracts

A cataract is a clouding of the lens of the eye, which leads to a decrease in vision. While this eye condition is most common in seniors, diabetics can get cataracts at an earlier age and will experience a quicker deterioration of the lens.

Some of the symptoms of this eye condition include:

• blurry vision
• double vision
• light sensitivity
• difficulty seeing at night
• change in eyeglass prescription

Cataract Diagnosis & Management at Sunridge Eye Clinic

Our accredited eye doctors are qualified and experienced in cataract diagnosis. Using comprehensive eye exams, we check your ocular health and examine your lens for any signs of cataract formation.

Our staff is also happy to provide cataract management services including all pre- and post-cataract surgery care, ensuring your vision always remains clear, strong and comfortable.

 

3. Glaucoma

Glaucoma is one of the leading causes of blindness in Canada. It occurs when fluid pressure inside the eye slowly rises, causing damage to the optic nerve.

People with diabetes can get an uncommon type of glaucoma called neovascular glaucoma, where new blood vessels grow into the iris of the eye, blocking the normal flow of aqueous and raising intraocular blood pressure.

The stages and symptoms of glaucoma include:

• At the earliest stage, you may experience a gradual and often imperceptible decrease of peripheral (side) vision
• As glaucoma progresses, the side vision begins to noticeably fail, though your centre vision may remain clear
• During the most advanced stage, only a small area of central vision remains.
• Eventually, the extensive damage to the optic nerve will result in total vision loss.

Glaucoma Testing at Sunridge Eye Clinic

Because the early stages of glaucoma don’t present any noticeable symptoms, only a comprehensive eye exam can diagnose this eye condition.

During a glaucoma test, our eye doctors will check:

• Internal eye pressure
• The drainage angle of your eye
• Optic nerve health
• Corneal thickness
• Peripheral vision

 

How to Protect Your Vision When You Have Diabetes

If you have diabetes, it does not mean that you will develop any of these eye conditions. You have the ability to manage your health so that your vision is not compromised. Apart from monitoring your blood sugar levels, you should also:

• Visit your eye doctor regularly: Through diabetic retinal examinations and other tests, our qualified optometrists can ensure that your eyes are healthy and diagnose any conditions early on to prevent vision loss.

• Control your diet: Eating right is essential when trying to prevent or control diabetes. You need to eat a diet that is high in nutrients, low in fat and moderate in calories

• Exercise: Exercise can help you control your blood sugar, increase fitness and reduce your risk for heart disease and nerve damage.

 

Call Today

To find out more about our services including diabetic retinal examinations, cataract management and glaucoma testing, contact our Calgary eye clinic at 403-280-7518 or book an eye exam today.