Diabetic Eye Exams | Henry Family Vision Care

Protect Your Eyes from Diabetes

Diabetes is a chronic condition where a person cannot produce insulin independently or cannot use the insulin they produce. Insulin helps regulate glucose (blood sugar)—without it, a person with diabetes can have too much blood sugar, which may cause damage throughout the body.

Did you know diabetes can affect your eyesight and increase your risk of vision loss? Luckily, our team at Henry Family Vision Care offers diabetic eye exams to monitor your eyes for any changes due to diabetes. Let us help protect your eyes from complications due to diabetes—book your exam today.

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How Does Diabetes Affect Your Eyes?

An estimated 11 million Canadians are currently living with diabetes or pre-diabetes. Diabetes is also the leading cause of blindness in Canada. So how does it affect your eyes?

Elevated blood sugar can damage your organs, blood vessels, and nerves. This damage is especially noticeable in your eyes. Signs of eye damage due to diabetes include:

Blurry vision
Double vision
Loss of visual field
Flashes & floaters

Eye Diseases Associated with Diabetes

Diabetes can increase your risk of developing serious eye diseases, some of which can lead to vision loss. It’s essential to understand these diseases—especially if you have diabetes—and take steps to monitor your condition and manage your risk.

Diabetic Retinopathy

Diabetic retinopathy is caused by damage to the blood vessels at the back of the high from high blood sugar. As the blood vessels swell, they can block new blood vessel growth, which can cause parts of the retina to die. If left untreated, diabetic retinopathy can cause blindness.

Diabetic Macular Edema

Diabetic macular edema (DME) is caused by diabetic retinopathy. Swollen blood vessels can lead to swelling in the macula—the central part of the retina. As the macula swells, it can cause vision loss and blindness.

Cataracts

Cataracts occur when the normally clear natural lens of the eye becomes cloudy due to a buildup of protein. Cataracts can cause vision loss and are usually diagnosed in people over the age of 60. Diabetes has been associated with the early development of cataracts

Glaucoma

Glaucoma is one of the leading causes of blindness in Canada. It occurs because of pressure buildup on the optic nerve at the back of the eye. People with diabetes are twice as likely to develop glaucoma.

How Do Diabetic Eye Exams Work?

During a diabetic eye exam, your doctor will use a few specialized tools to check your eyes for damage due to high blood sugar levels. These tools include:

Fundus photography allows us to get a detailed picture of your retina and optic nerve to check for signs of diabetic retinopathy
Optical coherence tomography helps us measure retinal thickness and monitor for diabetic macular edema
Visual field testing lets us measure your central and peripheral vision to determine whether you have vision problems associated with glaucoma

Let Our Team Help You

You don’t have to just live with the risk of vision loss from diabetes. Our team at Henry Family Vision Care has the tools and experience to monitor your eye health and diagnose diabetes-related eye conditions before they become a problem.

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Our Location

WHERE TO PARK?

Our practice is conveniently located near Highway 16 and Main Street in Edson, Alberta. There’s lots of parking available directly in front of our office.