Eye Care Tailored to Your Needs
Diabetes is a chronic condition that can affect every part of the body. It means your body can’t manage insulin properly. The resulting high blood sugars can wreak havoc on your body’s functionality.
3.3 million Canadians live with diabetes. Many keep their diabetes under control with medication, lifestyle changes, and proper management. But one critical part of your diabetes management plan? Routine visits to the eye doctor.
Book an appointment at Highstreet Eyecare Center to safeguard your vision against diabetic eye disease.
Diabetes & the Eye
Diabetes can affect all areas of the body, but high blood sugar can impact the tissues of the inner eye.
Some diabetic eye diseases have no signs in the early stages, but symptoms include:
- fluctuating or blurred vision
- occasional double vision
- visual field loss
- flashes and floaters
Diabetic Retinopathy
Diabetic retinopathy is a condition that occurs over time in over half of patients with diabetes. In advanced cases, it can cause vision loss.
When blood sugar rises, it can cause the blood vessels in the retina to swell and leak. After some time, abnormal blood vessels can grow in the eye, causing dark spots and vision loss.
The early stages of diabetic retinopathy have no symptoms but can be detected by your optometrist. Treatments include surgery, injections, and laser surgery, but early intervention can potentially save your sight.
Diabetic Macular Edema
When diabetic retinopathy is left untreated, it can lead to macular edema. The macula is a small spot located centrally on the retina, responsible for clear, detailed vision used to recognize faces and read text. Macular edema is swelling of the macula, which can lead to vision loss.
Glaucoma
Glaucoma is a condition that affects the optic nerve and is often linked to raised intraocular pressure (IOP). People with diabetes have double the chance of developing glaucoma.
Using Technology to Detect Diabetic Eye Conditions
At Highstreet Eyecare Center, we use optomap technology by Optos to get a clear image on the back of your eye. This digital scan creates an ultrawide image of the retina, offering a 200° view of the inner eye.
The strongest line of defence against diabetic eye disease has two facets: diabetes management and regular eye exams. Having an optometrist monitor your eyes on an appropriate schedule can reveal any changes within the eye.
Make visits to our practice a routine part of your diabetes management plan. Let us be partners in your health.