Yes, your optometrist can detect signs of diabetes during an eye exam. Early warning signs can be detected when examining the retina and the surrounding blood vessels. An optometrist can’t diagnose diabetes, but if anything unusual is found during your test, you will be informed and recommended to see your GP. Your doctor will do a blood test and confirm your diabetes diagnosis.
How Diabetes Affects Eyesight
If you have diabetes, you will likely develop some changes to your eyes. It can weaken or cause your eye’s focusing ability to vary. However, this can be mitigated by maintaining stable glucose levels. Diabetes may cause vision loss from diabetic retinopathy, which occurs when the blood vessels on the back of your eye are damaged. A person with diabetes may also be at risk of developing other conditions such as diabetic macular edema (DME), glaucoma, or cataracts.
What is Diabetic Retinopathy?
Diabetic retinopathy is a complication of diabetes caused by damage to the blood vessels in the retina. High blood sugar levels can damage the walls of small blood vessels. This can cause vessels to weaken, leak, or become blocked in the retina, leading to problems with your eyesight. If you have diabetes, it’s important to have regular eye tests at least every two years. This way, any damage can be detected early and treated to reduce the worsening of symptoms.
Some people have no symptoms while diabetic retinopathy is in its early stages. However, as it progresses, symptoms may include:
- Changes in vision.
- Blurred vision.
- Difficulty seeing at night.
- Empty areas in vision
- Spots or strings floating in their sight (floaters).
- Vision loss.
What is a Diabetic Eye Exam?
A diabetic eye exam is a comprehensive check that focuses on detecting any eye issues caused by diabetes. Your optometrist will conduct a general assessment of eye health with specific attention to your retina and blood vessels. The eye test may also include retinal imaging and optical coherence tomography (OCT) to check for any damage from diabetes. Some of the various tests include:
- Medical Overview & Vision History: The optometrist may ask for details about your diabetes (e.g., type 1 or type 2, when you were diagnosed, etc.) to understand how it might be affecting your eyes.
- Visual Acuity Test: This test uses the Snellen eye chart to measure the clarity and sharpness of your vision.
- Dilated Eye Exam: Special eye drops are used to widen your pupils so your optometrist can examine the retina and optic nerve.
- Retinal Imaging: An optometrist may use retinal imaging to capture high-resolution images of the back of your eye. This allows for detailed examination of the retina, optic nerve, and underlying blood vessels to detect any changes.
- Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT): An optical coherence tomography (OCT) scan creates a detailed, 3D image of the retina. This scan allows optometrists to check each layer of your eye for swelling or damage.
Need to Have Your Eyes Tested?
It’s recommended that a person with diabetes have their eyes tested every 1 to 2 years. Options Optometrists offers eye exams and quality eye care for patients. We use state-of-the-art equipment and tools to examine, diagnose and treat various eye conditions, including diabetic retinopathy. Book your appointment to see one of our optometrists today.