Did you know that if you have diabetes, you need to take extra care of your eyes, as well as your blood sugar levels? Sometimes we may think, "I can see fine, so why do I need to get my eyes checked?" But the truth is, diabetes is a condition that can cause damage to your eyes without showing any symptoms. That's why it's so important for everyone with diabetes to take care of their eyes and get regular eye exams.
Imagine, sometimes a person doesn't even know they have diabetes. But when you do an eye exam, the doctor can see the early signs of damage caused by diabetes in your eyes. That's a big clue for you, see your family doctor and get a proper checkup to see if you have diabetes.
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How does diabetes affect your eyes?
Simply put, diabetes mainly damages the small blood vessels and nerves in our body. This damage can also affect the eyes.
At the back of our eyes, there is a very sensitive screen-like part. This is what we call the retina . It's like the film in a camera. The light from the things we see is converted into electrical signals that the brain can understand. Then, those signals travel through the optic nerve to the brain, where we see an image.
This retina also contains a very important small area called the macula . This macula is what helps us see fine details, such as reading small letters clearly and recognizing subtle facial expressions. For this part to function properly, it needs to receive a good blood supply from the blood vessels in the retina.
Now this is where the problem starts. If your diabetes is not controlled properly, over time these tiny blood vessels become damaged. They can start leaking blood or fluid. We call this condition Diabetic Retinopathy . This is the most serious damage to the eyes caused by diabetes.
Not only that, people with diabetes are at increased risk of several other diseases:
- Glaucoma: This is a condition where the pressure inside the eye increases. This increased pressure can damage the optic nerve and lead to gradual loss of vision. The risk increases as the person has diabetes for a longer period of time.
- Cataracts: People with diabetes are at a higher risk of developing cataracts, a clouding of the lens of the eye, at a younger age than the general population.
Why is it important to have your eyes checked on time?
The most dangerous thing about this is that in the early stages of a condition like diabetic retinopathy, there may be no symptoms . Even if you think your vision is fine, damage to the inside of your eye may already be starting to occur. Symptoms (e.g. blurred vision, black spots floating in front of your eyes) only appear when the disease is very advanced. By then, the damage may have already been done.
That's why it's important to get an eye exam as soon as you're diagnosed with diabetes. That way, if damage has already begun, you can catch it early and get treatment to prevent vision loss.
If you have just been diagnosed with diabetes, don't put off your eye exam for any reason . Don't think, "I can still see well." Your doctor will decide how often you should have your next exam and what steps you should take based on the results of your first exam.
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Check Availability →How often should you have your eyes checked?
In general, if you have diabetes, you should have a complete eye exam at least once a year by an ophthalmologist or optometrist who is well-versed in the eye diseases caused by diabetes.
- Type 1 Diabetes: If you have Type 1 diabetes, it is recommended that you have your first test within 5 years of diagnosis, and then every year thereafter.
- Type 2 Diabetes: However, about 1 in 5 people with Type 2 diabetes may have some eye problems when they are diagnosed. Therefore, get an eye exam as soon as you find out you have Type 2 diabetes. After that, you should usually have an eye exam every year. If your test results are good, your doctor may recommend an eye exam every 2-3 years, but do so only on his or her advice.
- During pregnancy: If a woman with diabetes becomes pregnant, she should have an eye exam during the first trimester of pregnancy. She should have another exam a year after giving birth. This is important because hormonal changes during pregnancy can affect the eyes.
What to expect during an eye exam?
First of all, there's nothing to be afraid of about this test. It's painless and very simple. It's usually done during a complete eye exam.
| Test | Simply put, what do you do with this? |
|---|---|
| Visual Acuity Test | It measures how clearly you can see. It allows you to read letters that are near and far away. |
| Visual Field Test | While keeping your eyes straight, you see how far you can see around you. |
| Eye Muscle Function Test | They check for problems with the muscles around the eyes. The doctor moves something like a pen around, and asks you to look at it with both eyes without moving your head. |
| Pupil Response Test | They look at how light enters the eye. They shine a small flashlight into the eye and watch how the pupil responds. |
| Tonometry Test | This measures the pressure inside your eye. A machine sends a small stream of air into your eye. Or a special device gently touches your eye. Both are painless. |
| Proper dilation of the corpus callosum | This is the most important part. The doctor will put drops in your eyes to dilate the pupil. This will allow more light into the eye and allow you to see clearly if there are any problems with the retina and optic nerve. These drops will take about 30-60 minutes to work. |
💡 Take-Home Message
- If you have diabetes, get a complete eye exam at least once a year, even if you don't notice any changes in your vision .
- As soon as you are diagnosed with diabetes, don't delay getting your first eye exam.
- Along with eye exams, keeping your blood sugar, blood pressure, and cholesterol levels well controlled is also very important to protect your eyes.
- If you experience any sudden changes in your vision, such as blurred vision, black spots floating in front of your eyes, or eye pain, see your doctor immediately .
- The key to maintaining the health of your eyes is regular checkups and keeping your diabetes well-controlled.
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