November is Diabetes Eye Health Awareness Month—a time to highlight the impact of diabetes on eye health and the steps you can take to protect your vision. Diabetes can lead to eye health complications like diabetic retinopathy, a condition where high blood sugar levels damage the blood vessels in the retina. Left unchecked, it can lead to irreversible vision loss. The risk of vision loss from diabetes can be significantly reduced with regular eye check.
Manage Your Health to Protect Your Vision
Reducing your risk of developing diabetic retinopathy or slowing its progression if you already have it starts with managing your overall health. Keeping your blood sugar, blood pressure, and cholesterol levels within healthy ranges is essential for protecting your eyes from diabetes-related damage. These habits help keep your retina’s blood vessels healthy, lowering the chance of vision-threatening complications.
Regular Eye Exams Are Essential
Even with good health management, regular eye exams are a must. Diabetic retinopathy can progress quietly, often without symptoms until significant damage has occurred. Routine eye exams allow us to detect these changes early, giving you the best chance of preserving your vision.
Faster and Better Diabetes Eye Exam with Optos
In the past, diabetes eye checks required dilation drops, which caused temporary blurred vision and increased light sensitivity—an inconvenience that made many people hesitate to book regular appointments.
One of the most impactful technological advancements in diabetic eye care is the Optos imaging system. At The Eye Collective, we’re proud to have used Optos technology for many years to enhance our eye care services. Optos provides an ultra-widefield view of the retina without the need for dilation, capturing detailed images of both the central and peripheral retina. This advanced technology allows us to detect and manage a range of retinal diseases and conditions, including diabetic retinopathy, macular degeneration, and retinal tears, among others. For diabetic eye care, Optos is especially valuable, as it often reveals early signs of retinopathy in areas that can be challenging to view with traditional methods without dilation. With Optos, most diabetic eye exams are as quick and comfortable as a routine eye test, with no lingering effects on your vision or need for someone to drive you.
Protect Your Vision Today
During Diabetes Eye Health Awareness Month, make your vision a priority. With regular check-ups, health management, and advanced tools like Optos, protecting your vision from diabetic complications is easier and more effective than ever. Schedule an eye exam with us at The Eye Collective to experience the benefits of Optos and proactive diabetic eye care.