Why is eye examination essential for you if you have diabetes? (Diabetes and Eye Care)

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.

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`.

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.

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.

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.