Millions of people go to the optometrist each year for a regular checkup. For them, the primary motive is usually to make sure they don’t need glasses or a stronger lens prescription. However, the optometrist also checks patient’s eyes for a variety of potential problems, such as glaucoma or cataracts.
The eye doctor can even detect signs of diabetes in people who don’t know they have the disease.
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Signs of Diabetes in the Eye
‘Diabetes is a metabolic disorder that affects the entire body, including your eyes. It can cause a variety of symptoms and eventual damage to your vision if not detected and controlled. This condition is called Diabetic Retinopathy. It is usually detected during a dilated eye examination that allows the doctor to take pictures of or examine the back of your retina. While you may not notice any visual changes from retinopathy early on, some changes occur inside the eye. It can cause:
- leaking from the capillaries
- macular edema
- fatty deposits on the retina
- nerve damage
When the doctor sees these signs, he or she performs other tests to confirm a diagnosis. This can include a tonometry test, which checks the pressure of the fluid in the eye, and vision acuity tests for distance and near vision.
If the results indicate diabetic retinopathy, but you aren’t yet diagnosed as diabetic, the optometrist will likely recommend you see your family doctor. You’ll need to take a glucose tolerance test to confirm diabetes and start receiving treatment that can save your health and your vision. While there is no cure for diabetic retinopathy, you’ll be able to slow or nearly stop the progression of the disease with blood sugar control, and some optical treatments in the eye doctor’s toolkit.
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[expand title=”References“]
Diabetic Eye Disease: Diagnosis, Causes, and Symptoms. URL Link. Accessed October 2nd, 2017.
Diabetic Retinopathy – Exams and Tests. URL Link. Accessed October 2nd, 2017.
Eye Exams Can Detect Diabetes. (Video) URL Link. Accessed October 2nd, 2017.
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