Diabetes (and even pre-diabetes) can have negative effects on your eyes and vision. That is why it is important to have at minimum an annual comprehensive eye exam to monitor any potential changes or damage to your ocular health from diabetes.

Poor blood sugar control and how long you have been diagnosed as diabetic are the biggest risk factors for determining ocular damage from diabetes. Consistently high blood sugar readings can lead to increased near-sightedness, hemorrhages in the retina, and even even fluid collection in the central part of your vision (known as “diabetic macular edema” or DME).

All of these signs and symptoms can affect your vision, and in severe cases, they can even cause a sight-threatening retinal detachment, making it vital to make sure you inform us as soon as possible if you are experiencing any changes in your vision.

An annual eye exam allows us to monitor to ocular health to help detect any possible damage from diabetes and intervene before it becomes sight-threatening. We also work closely with your primary-care provider (PCP) or endocrinologist to inform them of our findings, keeping your whole diabetic health care team up-to-date with personalized care.