When my sister was in elementary school, she started always sitting in the front row of desks at school. One of her teachers noticed this habit and arranged a meeting with my parents. This caring teacher told my parents that she thought my sister needed glasses. When my sister visited an optometrist, this professional diagnosed her with a severe case of astigmatism. He also informed my parents that she was nearsighted as well. Due to her eye issues, my sister had to start wearing glasses all of the time. Her new glasses helped her tremendously in school. She no longer had to sit in the front of the classroom in order to view the notes placed on the board. On this blog, you will discover the importance of getting your kids’ eyes checked by an optometrist before enrolling them in school.
Regular eye exams are recommended for everyone. However, these exams become even more important for people with diabetes. People who have been diagnosed with diabetes should schedule an eye exam at least once a year.
Here is some further information about diabetes and eye exams.
Why People With Diabetes Should Get Regular Eye Exams
Diabetes can wreak havoc on various areas of your body, even your eyes. One of the most common eye conditions that people with diabetes experience is diabetic retinopathy. If you let your blood sugar levels get too high, it can eventually harm the vessels that bring blood to the retina. When this happens, your vision will not be as good. Symptoms of diabetic retinopathy include blurry vision and partial or total vision loss, floaters and trouble focusing.
That is why it is essential to get your eyes checked by an optometrist at least once a year. He or she will look for symptoms of diabetic retinopathy and other eye diseases and offer various treatment options.
What to Expect During an Eye Exam
During the beginning of a diabetic eye exam, your optometrist will ask you to read an eye chart. Then, he or she will check your eyes with lights and lenses and examine your eye pressure with a tonometer. Once that's done, your optometrist will administer eye drops to dilate your pupils.
Next, your eye doctor will check the blood vessels in your retina for damage. He or she may also take pictures of your retina at each exam to monitor changes.
How to Prepare for a Diabetic Eye Exam
To get the most out of your diabetic eye exam, it is important to prepare properly for it. First of all, you should maintain normal blood sugar for at least several days leading up to your eye exam. If your blood sugar is too high, it could skew the results of your exam.
If you have been experiencing any changes to your vision, you should write them down and bring them with you to your appointment. If you have any questions for your eye doctor, such as how to treat diabetic retinopathy, write that down too.
Now you can understand why regular eye exams are crucial for people with diabetes. If you have diabetes and have not seen an eye doctor in a while, you should schedule an appointment as soon a possible. You do not want to put your vision at risk.
Share21 September 2021
