Diabetic Eye Exam

Diabetes can lead to many eye health problems, including glaucoma, cataracts, and diabetic retinopathy. Anyone with diabetes should have an eye exam every year. At Total Eyecare, our optometrists have been providing Elko residents with diabetic eye care services for decades.

How Diabetes Affects the Eyes

Diabetes is a leading cause of blindness for people in the United States ages 20 to 74. High blood glucose levels can damage the small blood vessels in the eyes, leading to diabetic retinopathy. It can also accelerate the formation of cataracts and can even elevate the pressure in the eyes, which causes glaucoma.

Gestational Diabetes

Women with gestational diabetes are also at risk for developing ocular complications and should get an eye exam as soon as they get their diagnosis of pregnancy-induced diabetes. You may need a few eye exams during your pregnancy to ensure that you are not developing this condition.

Silent Causes of Blindness

Many types of glaucoma or diabetic retinopathy have no noticeable symptoms at first. However, an eye doctor can see changes in the eyes that indicate diabetic eye disease has developed before symptoms even appear. Scheduling regular diabetic eye exams will help you preserve your vision.

How a Diabetic Eye Exam is Done

During the exam, your doctor will look carefully at the blood vessels on the front and in the back of your eyes to check for signs of bleeding and hypoxia. All findings will be thoroughly discussed with you, and a report will be sent to the doctor managing your diabetes.   

Schedule a Diabetic Eye Exam with Our Eye Doctor in Elko

Call Total Eyecare today at (775) 738-8491 for more information on diabetic eye care or to schedule an appointment with our optometrist.