What is Diabetic Eye Care?
Diabetes can increase the risk of vision threats, such as cataracts, glaucoma, macular edema, and diabetic retinopathy, which is damage to the blood vessels in the retina. When left untreated, diabetic eye diseases can lead to vision loss. If you have type 1 or type 2 diabetes, you can preserve the health of your eyes by regularly seeing an eye specialist that understands how to identify, prevent, and manage diabetic eye diseases. Our board-certified ophthalmologists at Clewner & Kelly Eye Center are ready to partner with you for your diabetic eye care in Boca Raton, FL. Schedule an annual eye exam at our center in Boca Raton, FL, to have your eyes checked and learn more about your options.
What Are the Benefits of Diabetic Eye Care?
Diabetic eye care is crucial for those with type 1 or type 2 diabetes to prevent severe vision issues. Regular visits to an eye specialist can help identify and manage conditions that may otherwise lead to vision loss. Some of the benefits of diabetic eye care include:
- Early detection of diabetic retinopathy and other eye diseases
- Prevention of vision loss through timely treatment
- Regular monitoring of eye health to catch issues before they worsen
- Personalized care plans tailored to individual eye health needs
- Access to advanced treatments and technologies specific to diabetic eye care
Am I A Candidate For Diabetic Eye Care?
Anyone living with type 1 or type 2 diabetes is an ideal candidate for an eye check-up for diabetic patients in Boca Raton, FL. This can include patients who have been recently diagnosed with diabetes or people with diabetes who have not had an eye exam in a year. Candidates also include anyone experiencing symptoms such as color blindness, floaters, dark areas in their field of vision, or reduced vision. Our experienced team of board-certified ophthalmologists and eye specialists provides thorough eye exams for diabetics to help you get the early diagnosis and treatment you need for any diabetic eye issues. This is especially important for people who may have uncontrolled diabetes.
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What are the symptoms of diabetic eye diseases?
Eye complications from diabetes often have no early warning symptoms, which is why it is important to have regular visits with a diabetic eye specialist if you have been diagnosed with diabetes. Common symptoms of advanced diabetic eye disease in Boca Raton, FL patients include:
- Dark spots
- Floaters
- Flashes of light
- Blurry vision
- Color blindness
- Vision loss
What causes eye conditions in diabetic patients?
Diabetes can lead to various eye conditions due to high blood sugar levels, which damage the blood vessels in the eyes. Common diabetic eye conditions include diabetic retinopathy, cataracts, glaucoma, and macular edema. Diabetic retinopathy, the most prevalent, occurs when the retina's blood vessels are harmed, leading to vision impairment. Cataracts and glaucoma are also more likely to develop in diabetic patients. Managing blood sugar levels and regular eye exams with an ophthalmologist are essential in preventing or slowing the progression of these vision-threatening conditions. At Clewner & Kelly Eye Center, specialized diabetic eye care is available to help preserve your vision.
How are Diabetic Eye Conditions Managed?
Our eye specialists for diabetic patients in Boca Raton, FL, at Clewner & Kelly Eye Center will perform yearly diabetic eye exams to screen for any possible complications. Some of these tests may include dilating your pupils with special eye drops to take pictures of and examine the retina and other surrounding eye structures. It is also important to perform a regular tonometry test to check your eye's intraocular pressure and test for glaucoma. The results of these tests will allow our ophthalmologists to determine if additional ophthalmic work is necessary to preserve your vision. These additional treatments may include medications, eye injections, or surgeries.
Diabetic Eye Care FAQ
How are diabetic eye diseases detected?
It is important to note that many eye diseases that diabetes raises the risk factor for having no initial symptoms. It is extremely important to see your regular eye doctor for a once-yearly comprehensive eye exam that includes dilation so that eye diseases can be detected early for the best prognosis.
How are diabetic eye diseases prevented?
Diabetic eye diseases are best prevented by continued management of your blood sugar levels, regular exercise, and quitting smoking. However, even if your diabetes is under control, it is vital that you continue to receive regular once-yearly comprehensive eye exams with dilation so any eye diseases that you develop can be caught early.
What is diabetic retinopathy?
Diabetic retinopathy is a complication of diabetes that causes damage to the blood vessels of the retina or the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye. Like most diabetic eye diseases, diabetic retinopathy may not cause any initial signs or symptoms until the condition has significantly progressed. Anyone with type 1 or type 2 diabetes can develop diabetic retinopathy.
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protect and Preserve your Vision
When you have diabetes, visiting your ophthalmologist to screen for diabetic eye diseases is just as important as visiting your regular medical physician to manage your diabetes. Our Clewner & Kelly Eye Center ophthalmologists have advanced expertise in treating diabetic eye complications and helping patients to preserve their vision. To schedule a diabetic eye exam in Boca Raton, FL, contact our practice to speak to our knowledgeable team today.