Diabetic Eye Exams in Lindsay

Name: Russell West Optometry
Address: 67 Russell Street West, Lindsay, ON, K9V 2X1
Telephone: (705) 324-2612

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Regular Diabetic Eye Exams Can Safeguard Your Eye Health & Vision

Diabetes can affect your health in many ways and can have an impact on both your vision and eye health. However, this doesn’t mean your eyes can’t be protected; you can do your part to safeguard your vision by going for regular eye exams.

Eye exams are your first line of defence against eye conditions caused by diabetes, and early diagnosis can help you properly manage these problems before they damage your eyes.

All you need to do is book an appointment with our experienced eye care team, and we can set you on the path of getting the care you deserve!

Diabetes Raises The Risk of Eye Disease

Diabetes is a systemic disease that impacts how your body processes glucose (sugar). If there is too much sugar in your bloodstream, it can cause issues with your heart, teeth, and eyes.

Diabetes increases your risk of developing various eye diseases, including:

Open-angle glaucoma. Open-angle glaucoma is the most common type of glaucoma you could face, and your chances of developing this serious condition nearly doubles when you have diabetes. Open-angle glaucoma occurs when tiny blockages form in the drainage canals of your eyes, preventing fluids from leaving, increasing intraocular eye pressure (IOP).
Diabetic retinopathy. Diabetic retinopathy can occur when your blood sugar levels are too high, causing changes to the delicate blood vessels in your retina. This can cause the vessels to leak and bulge, permanently damaging your vision.
Diabetic macular edema (DME). If diabetic retinopathy isn’t addressed, you may develop diabetic macular edema. As your retina’s blood vessels swell and leak, the macula swells as well, leading to serious damage and, eventually, blindness.
Cataracts. Cataracts develop when our eye’s natural crystalline lens becomes cloudy. Cataracts are a natural part of the aging process, and most of us will develop them at some point during our lifetime. Diabetes can significantly increase the speed at which cataracts develop.

Diagnosing Diabetic Eye Diseases

During your eye exam, we will use the latest in eye care technology to monitor the effects your diabetes is having on your eye health and vision and look for signs of trouble. These tools include:

Optical Coherence Tomography

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) scans can capture images of cross-sectional cellular layers of the retina. The technology used is not unlike an ultrasound, but instead of using sound, OCTs use light to capture the highly detailed images optometrists use to help detect signs of diabetic retinopathy and DME much earlier than with traditional microscopes and lenses.

Fundus Photography

Fundus photography allows us to take a detailed colour photograph of the inside of your eye, giving us the ability to examine your retina, macula, optic disc, and retinal vascular system in great detail. These images can help us detect and follow diabetic retinopathy and diabetic macular edema with greater sensitivity and accuracy.

Safeguard Your Vision Today

Although diabetes can pose a threat to your eye health, there are proactive steps you can take to help safeguard one of your most important senses. Contact us, book your appointment, and do your part to protect your vision!

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