Tuesday, November 1, 2016
Diabetes is sneaky. It may be destroying your vision before you realize it.
That’s why it’s so important to have regular diabetic eye exams. We offer them at BayCare Clinic Eye Specialists.
Diabetes – either type 1 or type 2 – can cause diabetic retinopathy, which is damage to the small blood vessels in the retina. That’s the tissue at the back of the eye through which light and images are changed into nerve signals and sent to the brain, giving you the sight you cherish.
Diabetic retinopathy is the most common cause of vision loss or blindness in adults from their 20s to their 70s. Treatment varies, but can include eye surgery.
Symptoms include blurred vision, a slow loss of vision over time, floaters in the eye, shadows or gaps in vision, and trouble with night vision.
November is American Diabetes Month and Diabetic Eye Disease Month. People with diabetes also are at risk for cataracts, glaucoma, macular edema and detached retinas.
During an eye exam, our optometrists and ophthalmologists put drops in your eyes to dilate, or enlarge, your pupils. That allows your eye doctor to better see your retina and the rest of the interior of the eye. Your vision and eye pressure also will be checked during your eye exam.
If you have diabetes, preserve your vision and health by controlling your blood sugar and blood pressure, quitting smoking and getting regular eye exams.
BayCare Clinic Eye Specialists serves patients in Green Bay, Manitowoc, Marinette, Sturgeon Bay and Oconto Falls. For information or to request an appointment, call 877-462-9465 or request an appointment online.