If you have diabetes (Type 1 or Type 2), annual dilated eye exams are one of the most important things you can do to protect your vision. Diabetic retinopathy, damage to the blood vessels in your retina caused by high blood sugar, is the leading cause of blindness in working-age adults, but early detection and treatment can prevent up to 95% of vision loss.
Why Diabetic Eye Exams Matter
Diabetic retinopathy often has no symptoms in its early stages. You can have significant retinal damage before you notice any change in your vision. A dilated eye exam allows your optometrist to see the blood vessels in your retina and detect early signs of damage, leaking blood vessels, or swelling (diabetic macular edema) before vision loss occurs.
What to Expect
During a diabetic eye exam, your doctor will dilate your pupils with eye drops (this takes about 20-30 minutes to take effect), examine your retina using specialized instruments, take digital retinal images for documentation and comparison at future visits, check your eye pressure for glaucoma (which is more common in people with diabetes), and evaluate your overall eye health.
After dilation, your vision will be blurry for 2-4 hours, especially for close-up tasks. Bring sunglasses and consider having someone drive you home.
How Often Should You Be Examined?
The American Diabetes Association recommends an annual dilated eye exam for all people with diabetes. Your doctor may recommend more frequent exams if retinopathy is detected.
Schedule at any of our three locations
- San Jose (Oakridge Mall): 408.281.3381
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- Sunnyvale: 408.245.5725