Diabetic Eye Exam

Vision impairment is a common consequence of diabetes. To preserve your vision and eye health, the skilled ophthalmologists at Eye Site Sacramento in Sacramento and Folsom, California, provide comprehensive diabetic eye exams. This essential screening can detect early signs of diabetic retinopathy to ensure the team delivers effective care when your condition is still treatable. Call the nearest office today or schedule a diabetic eye exam online to learn more.

What is a diabetic eye exam?

A diabetic eye exam is a thorough screening that checks for signs of diabetic retinopathy and other conditions that can affect individuals with diabetes. This chronic disease is the result of high blood sugar. Your pancreas produces a hormone called insulin, which allows your cells to use sugar for energy. 

If your pancreas doesn’t make insulin or your body doesn’t use it efficiently, diabetes can develop. As sugar builds in the blood, it can damage the blood vessels, including the small vessels inside your eyes. The ophthalmologists at Eye Site Sacramento perform comprehensive diabetic eye exams to identify early eye disease signs and treat them immediately.

Who needs a diabetic eye exam?

Anybody with diabetes can benefit from regular eye exams with an experienced ophthalmologist. Diabetic eye exams can detect early signs of vision problems that commonly affect individuals with diabetes, such as:

Diabetic retinopathy

Diabetic retinopathy damages the small blood vessels inside the eyes, which can impact your ability to see clearly and decipher colors. In some cases, the condition can even cause blindness.

Macular edema

Macular edema occurs when fluid leaks from blood vessels into the center of the retina called the macula. Over time, this pressure buildup can damage the retina, the light-sensitive tissue in the back of the eye.

Cataracts

Cataracts is a progressive condition that causes the natural lens in the eye to become cloudy and foggy.

Glaucoma

Glaucoma is a condition that affects the optic nerve, which sends information to the brain. Diabetes can cause fluid and pressure buildup that damages the nerve and causes blindness.

What happens during a diabetic eye exam?

A diabetic eye exam is similar to the screenings you undergo during a routine visit. First, your ophthalmologist reviews your medical history and visually assesses your eyes. Next, they ask you to read from an eye chart. Your provider uses a special instrument called an ophthalmoscope to check your retina and surrounding structures.

Most diabetic eye exams also involve a slit lamp test. During this test, your ophthalmologist dilates your pupils and uses the lamp to examine your retina closely. Finally, they may perform a fluorescein angiography imaging test to monitor your retinal blood vessels.

Call Eye Site Sacramento today or schedule an appointment online to learn more about diabetic eye exams.