Diabetes & Your Eyes
Diabetes is a systemic disease that affects your body’s ability to create or use insulin, which regulates your blood sugar levels. When blood sugar is too high, it can damage organs, blood vessels, and nerves.
This can be particularly dangerous for your eyes. Patients with diabetes are at an increased risk for glaucoma, cataracts, and diabetic eye diseases, like diabetic retinopathy.
Managing diabetes is a team effort. Undergoing annual eye exams and maintaining appropriate blood sugar/blood pressure levels is an excellent start. By keeping communication lines open with your family doctor and optometrist, you will have the best chance of maintaining robust ocular health and vision quality throughout your life.
Be Aware of Changes in Your Vision
Because of the increased risk of developing complications, we advise you to closely monitor your visual quality and see us immediately if you notice any changes.
Sudden or even subtle changes may indicate the presence of an eye condition. If you experience any of the following symptoms, please schedule an eye exam with our optometrist. Early detection and treatment are key to maintaining your vision.
Diabetic Eye Diseases
Diabetic eye diseases can impact your veye health and vision, with some of the common symptoms including:
- Double vision
- Blurry or distorted vision
- Eye floaters and flashes of light
- Sudden loss of vision
Unusually high blood glucose levels can damage the delicate blood vessels in your eyes. Over time, these blood vessels may leak blood and fluid into the eye. If it is improperly managed, diabetic retinopathy can cause scar tissue to develop, damaging your vision. The condition can also progress to diabetic macular edema.
As these damaged blood vessels in the eye continue to leak, they deposit fluid into the retina, causing it to swell. The more the retina swells, the more damage is done to the macula. When the macula sustains damage, it impacts your ability to see fine details like text, numbers, and facial features.
Regular Eye Exams Help Us Stay on Top of Your Eye Health
We’re dedicated to helping our patients feel comfortable during the entire eye examination process. The exam involves a series of noninvasive tests and is generally completed within 60 minutes.
Patients with diabetes should schedule annual eye exams to safeguard their eye health. Our optometrist may want to see you more than once per year if they detect a condition that requires closer monitoring. Your vision is our priority.
Our Brands
Find Us In Bonnyville & St. Paul
Bonnyville
Find us on the corner of Main & 52nd Street, across from Westline Autowash.
- 5201 50 Avenue
- Bonnyville, AB T9N 2G6
- Phone: 780-826-4437
- Fax: 780-826-4267
- Monday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Tuesday: 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM
- Wednesday: 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM
- Thursday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Friday: 8:00 AM – 2:00 PM
- Saturday: Closed
- Sunday: Closed
St. Paul
You can find us on 51st Avenue, next to the Fire Hall.
- 4916 51 Avenue
- St. Paul, AB T0A 3A0
- Phone: 780-645-3790
- Fax: 780-645-2830
- Monday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Tuesday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Wednesday: 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM
- Thursday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Friday: 8:00 AM – 2:00 PM
- Saturday: Closed
- Sunday: Closed
Bonnyville Gallery
St. Paul Gallery
Our Blog
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Is Bad Vision Genetic?
Vision problems can be concerning, especially for parents who want the best health outcomes for their children. If you or your partner–or any of your family members–have poor eyesight or eye diseases, your children could potentially inherit this. While poor eyesight is impacted by various factors, such as age, health, environment, and lifestyle, genetics often […]
How Long Does Eye Strain Last?
While eye strain can be frustrating, the good news is that it’s usually a temporary inconvenience. By incorporating proper screen-use habits and maintaining eye health, you can minimize its effects and avoid long-term discomfort. […]
Why Do My Eyes Water In Cold Weather?
When the temperature drops, many people notice their eyes watering more than usual. You might find that your eyes become excessively moist when stepping outside on a chilly day, or even when going back indoors, where dry air from heating systems can cause irritation. While this might seem annoying, watery eyes in cold weather are […]
