Skip to content
If you have been diagnosed with diabetes, it is important to have regular eye exams, at least once per year. Diabetes increases your risk of eye problems, so it is important to not delay in caring for your eyes. However, you are also at risk for diabetic retinopathy: damage to the blood vessels located in your retina.
What is Diabetic Retinopathy?
This disease is the most common among those suffering from diabetes – both type 1 and 2; is the leading cause in America for blindness. In some people, the blood vessels in the retina may swell and leak fluid, however in other people you may develop new vessels on the surface of your retina. This eye disease typically affects both eyes, not just one.
If you are diagnosed with diabetic retinopathy, we will recommend a treatment to help the progression of this disease which may include more than one visit to the doctor per year. Do not let this go untreated.
Preventing Diabetic Retinopathy
You can’t always prevent diabetic retinopathy. However, you can help prevent vision loss and other complications of diabetic retinopathy
- Monitor your blood sugar level by checking levels regularly and working with your doctor to establish a routine.
- Manage your diabetes with a healthy diet and ample physical activity.
- Keep your blood pressure and cholesterol under control by losing excess weight, committing to a healthy lifestyle, and incorporating medication if needed.
- Pay attention to vision changes. Contact your eye doctor right away if your vision suddenly changes or becomes blurry, spotty or hazy.
To find out how to treat this eye disease, or to make an appointment for your annual checkup, please schedule your appointment today!