How Regular Eye Exams Help Prevent Diabetic Retinopathy
Diabetes affects every part of your body, including your eyes. Diabetic retinopathy, one of the most common vision-related diabetic conditions, may damage your eyesight and cause permanent vision loss in some cases. Fortunately, regular exams can help your ophthalmologist detect and treat changes in your eyes before the condition can harm your vision.
What Is Diabetic Retinopathy?
Diabetic retinopathy occurs when high blood sugar damages blood vessels that nourish the retina, the light-sensing tissue that lines the back of the eye. The retina changes light into electrical impulses and sends those impulses to the brain. Once the impulses reach the brain, they're converted to images. Damage to the retina makes it difficult for the brain to produce clear, sharp, complete images.
Damaged blood vessels in the retina become blocked and may swell or leak blood and fluid if you have diabetic retinopathy. Some vessels may close completely, preventing blood from reaching the retina. As the disease progresses, abnormal blood vessels may also grow and leak. Leaky blood vessels interfere with your vision, making it difficult to see clearly. In some cases, scarring or retinal detachment may occur. If your retina begins to detach from the back of your eye, you'll need emergency treatment to prevent permanent vision loss.
You can develop diabetic retinopathy if you have Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes. Your risk for the condition increases the longer you've had diabetes. More than 50% of people with diabetes will eventually develop diabetic retinopathy, according to the National Eye Institute.
Symptoms of diabetic retinopathy include:
- Blurry or Double Vision
- Trouble Reading
- Difficulty Focusing on Near Objects
- Eye Pain or Pressure
- Floaters (Dark, wispy shapes that seem to float in front of your eyes)
- Flashing Lights
- Dark Spots or Missing Areas in Your Field of Vision
- Night Vision Problems
- Faded Colors
Why Eye Exams Are So Important
Diabetic retinopathy can damage your vision even if you haven't noticed any changes to your vision yet. During eye exams, your eye doctor puts drops in your eyes that dilate (widen) your pupils. When your eyes are dilated, it's much easier to see the back of the eye and spot any changes.
The American Diabetes Association (ADA) recommends a dilated eye exam within five years of a type 1 diabetes diagnosis, followed by annual exams. If you have type 2 diabetes, the ADA suggests a dilated exam soon after your diagnosis, as you may have had diabetes longer than you realized. Annual exams are needed after the first exam, although more frequent eye exams may be recommended if you already have signs of diabetic retinopathy.
Are you planning to get pregnant? The ADA recommends an eye exam before pregnancy, another exam in the first trimester, and a third exam in the third trimester to ensure that no changes to your eyes have occurred.
If you receive a diabetic retinopathy diagnosis, regular exams will help your ophthalmologist monitor the progression of the disease and recommend treatment options. In addition to seeing your ophthalmologist as recommended, keeping your cholesterol, blood pressure, and blood sugar levels within recommended levels will help you protect your eyes. An A1C of less than 7 percent will help prevent or minimize eye changes, according to the ADA. The A1C blood test measures the amount of sugar in your blood during the past three months.
How Ophthalmologists Treat Diabetic Retinopathy
If you have diabetic retinopathy, your eye doctor may recommend one of these treatments:
- Anti-VEGF Injections. These eye injections reduce fluid leakage, prevent abnormal blood vessel growth, and may stabilize or improve your vision.
- Laser Therapy. Laser light seals leaking blood vessels and may stop new vessels from forming.
- Vitrectomy. Vitrectomy may be recommended if the gel-like vitreous that gives your eyeball its shape fills with blood or scar tissue. During this surgical procedure, all or part of the vitreous is removed and replaced with saline solution or an oil or gas bubble.
Are you due for an eye exam? Diabetes Awareness Month in November is the perfect time to make your appointment. Contact our office to schedule your visit.
Sources:
American Diabetes Association: Eye Health: Why You Should Schedule Your Annual Diabetes Exam, 6/2023
https://diabetes.org/sites/default/files/2023-09/EyeHealth_Resource_Annual-Exam_rev-1.pdf
National Eye Institute: Diabetic Retinopathy, 9/11/2025
https://www.nei.nih.gov/learn-about-eye-health/eye-conditions-and-diseases/diabetic-retinopathy
American Academy of Ophthalmology: What Is Diabetes, 9/23/2024
https://www.aao.org/eye-health/diseases/diabetic-eye-disease
American Diabetes Association: Diabetes Eye Disease
https://diabetes.org/health-wellness/eye-health/diabetes-eye-disease
