Diabetes and The Eyes
You may have heard that diabetes causes eye problems and may lead to blindness. Diabetics are at a greater risk of becoming blind, but there are steps you can take to avoid eye problems.
First and foremost, keep your blood sugar levels under control.
Secondly, maintain a normal blood pressure to help keep any eye conditions from worsening.
If you smoke, quit.
With routine checkups by an eye care specialist, you can keep minor problems from becoming major ones. A dilated eye exam once a year is highly recommended.
If any of the following occur between eye examinations, please see your optometrist or ophthalmologist immediately:
- Double vision
- Floaters, spots or sudden flashes of light
- Blurriness
- Difficulty reading signs or books
- A straight line does not look straight
The things listed above can help preserve your vision as well as eating a healthy diet and exercise as advised by your healthcare professional. And always maintain good eye protection habits by wearing sunglasses with UV protection to reduce exposure.
To schedule a diabetic eye evaluation or if you are experiencing any eye problems, please call Eye Center South for an appointment at (800) 467-1393 .