08/31/2026
Labor Day Office Closure
Please note that All Eyecare Optometry will be closed on Monday, September 7th, in observance of Labor Day.
We will resume our regular office hours on Tuesday, September 8th. We wish all of our patients and their families a safe and happy Labor Day weekend!
Diabetes & Your Eyes: Protecting Your Vision Before Problems Begin
Your vision is precious. If you have diabetes, regular eye care is one of the most important steps you can take to protect it.
Diabetes can affect the small blood vessels throughout the body—including those in the retina, the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye. Sometimes, diabetic eye disease develops without noticeable symptoms, which is why routine comprehensive eye exams are so important.
Understanding Diabetic Eye Complications
Diabetic Retinopathy:
High blood sugar can damage the tiny blood vessels in the retina. Early diabetic retinopathy may cause no symptoms, but as the condition progresses, it can lead to bleeding, swelling, retinal damage, and vision loss.
Diabetic Macular Edema (DME):
When damaged blood vessels leak fluid into the macula—the part of the retina responsible for sharp central vision—swelling can occur. DME can make reading, driving, recognizing faces, and other everyday activities more difficult.
Cataracts:
People with diabetes may develop cataracts at a younger age or experience faster cataract progression. Cataracts cause the eye's natural lens to become cloudy, resulting in blurry or hazy vision.
Glaucoma:
Diabetes is associated with an increased risk of glaucoma, a group of diseases that can damage the optic nerve. Glaucoma often develops gradually and may not cause noticeable symptoms until significant damage has occurred.
Why a Comprehensive Eye Exam Matters
During an eye exam, your optometrist can evaluate the retina and optic nerve for signs of diabetes-related damage. Depending on your individual needs, retinal imaging, dilation, optical coherence tomography (OCT), and other diagnostic testing may help identify changes that are not visible to you.
The key message: You can have diabetic eye disease and still see well.
Finding changes early gives your eye-care team a better opportunity to monitor and manage the condition before vision is seriously affected.
Protect Your Eyes by Managing Your Overall Health
Eye health and overall health are closely connected. Work with your healthcare team to manage:
- Blood glucose
- Blood pressure
- Cholesterol
- Medications and treatment plans
- Smoking and to***co exposure
- Regular physical activity and nutrition
Keeping these risk factors under control can help reduce the risk of diabetes-related complications.
Know When to Call Your Eye Doctor
Contact your eye-care professional promptly if you notice:
- New or sudden blurry vision
- A sudden increase in floaters
- Flashes of light
- A dark curtain or shadow across your vision
- Distortion or difficulty seeing straight lines
- Sudden changes in your vision
Sudden vision changes should never be ignored.
Make Your Eye Health Part of Your Diabetes Care Plan
If you have diabetes, don't wait until your vision changes to schedule an eye exam. Your recommended examination schedule depends on your type of diabetes, overall health, previous eye findings, and other risk factors.
This month, take one simple step: schedule your comprehensive eye examination and make protecting your vision part of your diabetes-care routine.
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