Diabetic examination
Diabetic eye exams should be performed regularly every year on type I and type II diabetics, also called insulin-dependent diabetes and non-insulin-dependent diabetes, respectively. A diabetic eye exam includes thorough vision tests, binocular vision tests, and a comprehensive eye health assessment that includes a dilated fundus exam. During a dilated fundus exam, your optometrist will put drops in your eyes and ask you to wait 20 to 30 minutes before examining the retina. Your optometrist will check for cataracts, glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy.
Vision change
Poorly controlled blood sugar levels can cause a significant change in vision. If you have diabetes, your prescription may fluctuate as your blood sugar rises or falls. Some patients experience a sudden increase in myopia, and in some cases the prescription actually improves.
Binocular vision test
Your optometrist regularly tests how your eyes work together and how your eyes move. Diabetes can affect the cranial nerves, the nerves that innervate the head. 3 of the cranial nerves control the muscles that move the eye. If one of these cranial nerves is affected, you may experience sudden double vision. You should see your doctor immediately because sudden double vision can be an emergency.
Diabetic retinopathy
Diabetes affects the body's small blood vessels, including the retina. In diabetic retinopathy, the small blood vessels in the retina leak blood and fluid. In some patients, new vessels may develop. This type of diabetic retinopathy is more serious and can lead to permanent vision loss. Diabetic retinopathy is the leading cause of blindness in North America. Not all diabetics develop diabetic retinopathy.
Risk factors for diabetic retinopathy include:
– Have had diabetes for a greater number of years
– poorly controlled blood sugar
– high blood pressure
Symptoms of diabetic retinopathy:
- blurry vision
- distorted vision
- floaters or flashes
A diabetic eye exam may also include an OCT exam. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is a new technology that allows us to visualize the different layers of the retina allowing us to diagnose diabetic changes earlier.