Why You Want a Board-Certified Ophthalmologist on Your Diabetes Care Team

Roughly 40 million Americans have a diagnosis of diabetes, and that means every one of those individuals is also at risk of developing serious complications that can affect nearly every aspect of their health. 

Most people who have diabetes understand the critical importance of having regular checkups and visits with their primary care doctor. But what they may not realize is that seeing a skilled ophthalmologist is equally important to prevent complications that affect their vision.

Eye Care & Surgery has extensive experience helping patients with diabetes protect their eyes and their vision with diabetic eye exams and advanced therapies aimed at keeping their eyes healthy. 

In recognition of National Diabetes Month, our team explains why it’s so important for anyone with diabetes to have a board-certified ophthalmologist on their care team for better vision now and in the future.

Diabetes and your vision

Diabetes is a condition in which blood sugar (glucose) levels are higher than normal on an ongoing basis. 

There are two primary types of diabetes: Type 1 and Type 2. 

Type 1 is an autoimmune disorder that happens when your immune system prevents your pancreas from making insulin, a hormone that helps manage glucose levels. Type 2 is a metabolic disorder that interferes with the way your body produces or uses insulin. 

Gestational diabetes is a third type that can develop when you’re pregnant.

All types of diabetes can cause damage to your nerves and your blood vessels, interfering with circulation that helps keep your eyes and other organs and tissues healthy.

Vision risks associated with diabetes are more common than you may realize — so common that the group of eye problems associated with diabetes has its own, distinct name: diabetic eye disease.

Diabetic eye disease basics

Diabetic eye disease includes four primary conditions:

• Diabetic retinopathy, the leading cause of blindness among working-age adults
• Macular edema
• Cataracts
• Glaucoma

All four conditions typically cause few or no noticeable symptoms until some degree of vision loss has occurred.

These conditions mostly develop when unusually high glucose levels damage the tiny blood vessels in your eyes. 

Affected vessels begin to leak fluid, and new, weak vessels may begin to grow to compensate for the decline in circulation, leading to scarring, excess eye pressure, and other problems that eventually cause permanent vision loss.

The critical role of skilled ophthalmology care

As we mentioned above, vision problems rarely cause noticeable symptoms early on even though damage is occurring inside your eye. In fact, some eye changes associated with diabetes can occur during prediabetes, when glucose levels are elevated, but not high enough to warrant a full diabetes diagnosis.

Even though you may not notice symptoms of diabetes-related vision issues, a skilled ophthalmologist can identify subtle changes during a special diabetic eye exam. 

These evaluations pay special attention to the parts of the eye that are most prone to diabetes- related damage, helping us diagnose issues very early so we can treat them before vision loss occurs.

During your exam, we recommend therapies focused on preventing vision loss and improving overall eye health. Eye drops, oral medications, laser therapies, and other state-of-the-art surgical and nonsurgical options help us keep your eyes healthy and your vision as clear as possible.

At the same time, we work closely with other members of your care team, ensuring your diabetes care plan is always focused on your specific and evolving needs. And, of course, we offer plenty of guidance and lifestyle tips to help you play a proactive role in maintaining your eyesight as you get older.

Schedule your diabetic eye exam today

There’s no cure for diabetes, but with the right care team in place, you can protect your vision and your overall health — and enjoy a better quality of life, too. 

To learn how our team can work with you to create a plan that protects your eyes, request an appointment online or over the phone with our team at Eye Care & Surgery in the Fort Washington neighborhood of Manhattan, in the Bronx, and in New Rochelle, New York.