Will Diabetes Affect My Eyesight?
If you have diabetes, you have a higher risk of losing your eyesight than those without the disease, so it's imperative that you see your eye care professional at least once a year for a dilated eye exam. Having your regular doctor check your eyes isn't enough, nor is having your eyeglass prescription tested by an optician. Only optometrists and ophthalmologists can detect the serious eye problems that can occur because of diabetes.
Before you even know you have diabetes, you can experience "refractive shift" - one of the most common disorders that occurs if the blood sugar suddenly peaks at a high level - and results in blurry vision that can last for several weeks. Even after your blood sugar is under control, your vision might stay out of focus for up to four weeks, and may necessitate the use of temporary glasses in order to function.
Contact your eye care professional immediately if your vision becomes blurred, you have trouble reading signs or books, you have double vision or if you have pain in your eyes. It's also crucial to be examined immediately if your eyes become bloodshot, you see spots or flashes of light, or you notice a sudden loss of vision in one or both eyes.
Whether or not you have diabetes, quality eye care does make a difference in your total well-being. Let one of our four doctors of optometry at Sunshine Eye Clinic help you monitor your eye health.
