Understanding Your Eyes and Diabetes: Simple Guide
If you are living with type 1 or type 2 diabetes, proactive eye care is essential to protecting your vision.
From National Institutes of Health (NIH) - Diabetic retinopathy can cause vision loss and blindness in people with diabetes. People with diabetic retinopathy may see floaters (dark spots that move around) and have blurry vision.
If you have diabetes, managing your health means also protecting your eyes. St. Jude Eye Care in Brooklyn, NY, is here to help you understand how diabetes affects your vision and why check-ups are so important.
Dr. Swathi Reddy and our local team focus on keeping your eyes healthy. We want to catch problems early so you can keep seeing clearly for years to come.
How Does Diabetes Affect My Eyes?
Your eyes have tiny blood vessels in the back part called the retina. The retina is like the film in a camera—it captures what you see.
When your blood sugar levels are high for a long time, these tiny blood vessels get damaged. They can swell up, leak fluid, or stop working the right way. This damage is called diabetic retinopathy.
Important Fact: The first signs of damage often happen without you even noticing a change in your vision. This is why you need a special eye exam every year.
Eye Problems Linked to Diabetes
During your visit to St. Jude Eye Care, Dr. Reddy will check for these specific issues:
Diabetic Retinopathy: Damage to the blood vessels in the back of the eye.
Swelling (Macular Edema): When the center of the retina gets swollen with fluid, making it hard to read or drive.
Cataracts: Diabetes can make the lens in your eye cloudy (a cataract) at a younger age.
Glaucoma: Diabetes increases your risk for this disease, which damages the main nerve that connects your eye to your brain.
What Happens at a Diabetic Eye Exam?
A diabetic eye exam is different from a normal eye check. It is designed specifically to look for the hidden signs of damage.
Quick Review: We check your blood sugar history and medicines.
Vision Test: We test how well you can see.
Eye Drops (Dilation): We use special drops to make your pupils (the black center of your eyes) bigger. This lets Dr. Reddy look all the way into the back of your eye to find any leaks or damage. It’s the most important part of the exam.
Special Pictures: We might take pictures of your retina using a simple machine to check for swelling.
Taking Action to Protect Your Vision
The best way to prevent vision loss is to manage your diabetes and keep your appointments.
See Us Every Year: Health experts like the American Diabetes Association say most people with diabetes need a dilated eye exam at least once every single year.
Control Your Health: Keep your blood sugar (A1c), blood pressure, and cholesterol in the healthy range your doctor recommends.
You can read more about diabetes and eye health on the official website for the National Eye Institute.
Next Steps for Consultation
To schedule a diabetic eye exam in our Brooklyn office, please contact us at (718) 257-4549 or schedule an appointment online.
We accept most major insurance plans, including Medicare and Medicaid. We are here for the Canarsie and East Flatbush communities.