Why Diabetics Need Annual Dilated Eye Exams


Health News : Having diabetics increases your risk of certain eye complications that can cause vision loss. This isn’t something to be scared of, but it is something to be aware of. An annual dilated eye exam can catch signs of disease early to preserve your vision. In fact, a full 90% of diabetes-related blindness can be prevented through early detection and treatment.

What to Expect from an Annual Dilated Eye Exam

If you’ve had an eye exam in the past, some parts of the annual dilated exam will be familiar to you. Other parts may be new, but don’t worry. They aren’t painful or usually even uncomfortable. A typical annual dilated eye exam includes:

An eye chart test to determine your ability to see at different distances
An “air poof” test to check the pressure inside your eyes
Pupil dilation through drops in your eyes that help your ophthalmologist examine your retina and optic nerve, which connects the eye to the brain
Optical coherence tomography (OCT) to capture images of your retina
After an annual dilated exam, your eyes will be sensitive to light. Your doctor will likely give you disposable sunglasses, or you can wear your own. The test may seem like an inconvenience, but it can help you prevent the development of diabetes-related eye diseases like diabetic retinopathy, diabetic macular edema, age-related macular degeneration, cataracts, and glaucoma.

Diabetic Retinopathy

Diabetic retinopathy is the most common cause of decreased vision for those with diabetes. It causes the delicate blood vessels of the retina, which we rely on for sensing light, to swell and leak fluid. As the disease progresses, the original blood vessels constrict and blood flow is interrupted. In response, abnormal new blood vessels proliferate. These new vessels leak profusely. This can cause permanent vision loss, including total blindness. It’s estimated that about 40% of those with diabetes in the United States have diabetic retinopathy, but only half know it.

However, it’s important to know if you have diabetic retinopathy, because it’s highly treatable, especially if discovered early. The annual dilated eye exam is key to early detection, because there are typically no symptoms until vision is lost. Treatment can be as simple as better control of blood sugar and blood pressure. Injectable medications called anti-VEGF therapies can stop blood vessels from growing excessively and decrease levels of fluid in the retina. Oral medications can reduce swelling, and laser procedures can seal blood vessel leaks. If leakage is severe, traditional surgery may be an option.

Diabetic Macular Edema

About half of those with diabetics retinopathy go on to develop diabetic macular edema (DME). This happens when the swelling, or edema, within the retina extends to the macula, the critical part of the retina responsible for our central vision. Without it, we wouldn’t be able to identify faces, drive, read, write, or cook. DME is more likely to occur if diabetics retinopathy is left untreated and gets worse.

Read Full News : https://worldfoxnews.com/2019/07/07/diabetics-need-annual-dilated-eye-exams/

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