When Do You Need a Diabetic Eye Exam?

Diabetes is a difficult disease for anyone to manage, particularly because it can have such wide-ranging consequences. From head to toe, people with it have to consider the consequences of numerous decisions they make throughout the course of the day. While your eye health may not be the first thing on your mind, though, it is worth keeping on your radar. Ideally, you should have an annual diabetic eye exam, and we’ll tell you why it’s worth taking the precaution.

Early Stages Don’t Always Have Signs

The earliest stages of certain eye disorders don’t always make themselves known. If you have a diabetes-related issue, you may not experience any pain, discomfort, or problems with your vision. A diabetic eye exam in Burleson, TX will go a couple of layers deeper than a regular eye exam, so you can be certain that your eyes are doing just fine.

Eye Exams Check for Multiple Conditions

An eye doctor in Burleson, TX will check your eyes for universal conditions, like glaucoma or cataracts. They’ll also look for things like diabetic retinopathy, a condition that damages the blood vessels of the retina. Whether you have Type I or Type II diabetes, your odds of developing this condition are relatively high (even if it takes a while to manifest). Around 80% of people who have had diabetes for two decades or more will develop retinopathy.

Diabetic Exams in Burleson

The difference between a regular eye and a diabetic one comes down to how the doctor processes your eye health. People with diabetes may have different reactions to threats than those without.

During the exam, a doctor or specialist will look carefully at the blood vessels with the help of eye drops. Once your pupils are dilated, they’ll be able to see how your blood vessels, optic nerves, and retina are all functioning together. If they see anything alarming, the next tests will involve anything from pressure tests to checking the cross-sections of your retina.

If you’re looking for a staff that understands the unique attributes of diabetes, Vision Plaza offers this service to patients who don’t want to take any chances. While a standard eye exam can reveal certain conditions, it’s important to go the extra step if you have diabetes.