Diabetic Eye Exams | St. Thomas, ON

Personalized Care for Patients with Diabetes

Diabetes is more than just managing your blood sugar–it’s about protecting your long-term health, including your vision. Diabetes increases the risk of eye conditions like diabetic retinopathy, cataracts, and glaucoma.

Many of these conditions develop silently, with no early warning signs. A diabetic eye exam can help detect changes before they affect your sight. We recommend that our patients with diabetes see us yearly.

Diabetes affects everyone differently. Once our team understands your unique situation, we’ll create a personalized exam schedule. Book your diabetic eye exam with us today!

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What Happens During a Diabetic Eye Exam?

Our diabetic eye exams are designed to assess the impact of diabetes on your vision and eye health. We’ll begin by reviewing your medical history and discussing any vision changes you’ve noticed.

Your exam will include visual acuity testing, an assessment of your prescription, eye dilation, and noninvasive images of the inside of your eyes. These images help us identify any early signs of diabetic eye diseases or track previously diagnosed conditions.

Helping You Manage Diabetic Eye Issues

People with diabetes are at a higher risk of certain eye conditions like:

Early cataracts
Premature presbyopia (the inability to focus on up-close objects)
Glaucoma
Retinal detachments

With regular diabetic eye exams, good blood sugar management, and a healthy lifestyle, you can lower your risk of diabetic eye conditions, diseases, and complications.

There are 2 main conditions to worry about when it comes to diabetes and your vision.

Diabetic retinopathy is a condition that occurs when high blood sugar levels damage the blood vessels in the retina, the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye. Over time, these blood vessels may weaken, leak, or even bleed, leading to swelling and other vision problems.

In the early stages, diabetic retinopathy often has no symptoms, which is why it’s vital for people with diabetes to have regular eye exams. If left untreated, this condition can progress and lead to permanent vision loss.

Early detection and management are key to preventing severe damage and maintaining eye health.

Diabetic macular edema (DME) is a complication that can arise from advanced diabetic retinopathy. It happens when fluid builds up in the macula—the central part of the retina responsible for sharp, detailed vision.

The accumulation of fluid causes the macula to swell, impairing your central vision and making it harder to see clearly. In some cases, macular edema may affect only one eye, which means you may not notice changes in your vision right away.

If left untreated, DME can significantly affect your ability to see clearly, making early detection through regular eye exams crucial for managing this condition.

Book Your Diabetic Eye Exam

Managing your eye health is an essential part of maintaining overall wellness when you have diabetes. Regular diabetic eye exams help detect early signs of conditions like diabetic retinopathy and diabetic macular edema, which often develop without noticeable symptoms.

Schedule your diabetic eye exam with the supportive team at First Optometry. We’re dedicated to helping preserve your vision.

Request Appointment