Diabetic Eye Exam

Diabetes can silently damage your eyes without you noticing until severe complications occur. That’s why Vistasite Eye Care of Sheepshead Bay in the Sheepshead Bay neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York, led by Stanislav Ilyusha, OD, offers regular diabetic eye exams as an essential part of your diabetic care. Call the office today to schedule your appointment, or use the online tool to book.

How does diabetes affect the eyes?

Diabetes is a chronic medical condition that affects your body’s ability to use and store sugar correctly. When glucose, or blood sugar, levels remain high, it damages the tiny blood vessels in your eyes and the rest of your body. 

People with diabetes are at risk of developing several eye problems, including:

• Cataracts
• Glaucoma
• Diabetic retinopathy

You may not recognize symptoms of these conditions until they’ve reached a serious state. In the early stages, a condition like diabetic retinopathy doesn’t cause changes in your vision. Only a professional eye exam can perform the retinal exam that detects this condition so you can get early treatment and prevent long-term vision changes.

How often do I need a diabetic eye exam?

People with diabetes should get a professional eye exam every 1-2 years. You can rely on the practice’s state-of-the-art equipment that appropriately checks the back of your eye.  

What happens during a diabetic eye exam?

A diabetic eye exam is much like a regular eye exam, but your provider pays special attention to the health of your retina and checks the status of the blood vessels in your eye. 

The eye exam includes pupil dilation that gives your provider a clear view of your eyes’ inner structures. These include the optic nerve, retina, and blood vessels. 

Special drops applied to the lower eyelids dilate your pupils in about 30 minutes. You’ll have blurry vision and light sensitivity that subside within a few hours. It’s a good idea to have someone drive you home from your appointment. 

If your provider sees anything of concern, they may order a test called fluorescein angiography, which most accurately detects damaged blood vessels at the back of your eye. Fluorescein angiography involves injecting a special dye into your arm. The dye travels through your bloodstream to your eyes, where it illuminates any blood vessel damage. 

Your diabetic eye exam may also include an imaging test called optical coherence tomography (OCT). This test evaluates the cross-sections of your retina and allows your provider to see any thinning or thickening blood vessels. 

If you have diabetes, don’t ignore your eye health. Call Vistasite Eye Care of Sheepshead Bay or use the online tool to schedule your diabetic eye exam today.