The Secret Damage Diabetes Can Cause to Your Eyes

If you have diabetes, your next eye exam is probably the last thing on your mind. Along with its other damaging effects, diabetes can also harm the eyes and even result in vision loss. In fact, diabetic retinopathy is responsible for more vision loss in older people than most other causes.

People with diabetes in Columbia, SC, can trust Dr. Dorothy Parks to keep their eyesight healthy.

What the Optometrist Sees

Diabetic retinopathy affects the blood vessels that circulate within the inner eye and retina. The retina captures the light that enters your eye and helps translate it into the images you see via the optic nerve.

Diabetic patients must include eye exams in their regular checkup routine as an optometrist must diagnose diabetic retinopathy. A diabetic eye exam involves dilating your pupils so the optometrist can see inside your eyes and accurately assess your blood vessels’ condition to identify the proper treatment to help reduce blood vessel damage.

Early treatment can delay the progression of diabetic retinopathy and related symptoms, but if left untreated, a patient can lose their vision altogether.

Identify Diabetic Retinopathy Early

Don't let diabetes take your eyesight! If you’re in the Columbia, SC, area, call (803) 254-6306 today to schedule your diabetic eye exam. The Dr. Dorothy Parks and Associates team will do our best to keep your vision clear for as long as possible.