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It comes as a surprise to many patients that a condition like diabetes can have detrimental effects on their eyes. To keep your vision clear in spite of your diabetes, you should attend regular diabetic eye exams at Beraja Medical Institute in Coral Gables, Florida. Your provider can examine the structures in your eyes and provide treatment for new and developing conditions early. Book your next diabetic eye exam by phone or request one online today. To request a consultation, contact the office in Coral Gables, Florida, by phone or online today.

• 786-899-2516

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Diabetic Eye Exam Q & A

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What is a diabetic eye exam?

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A diabetic eye exam is an eye exam designed specifically for patients with diabetes. Diabetes can affect your eyes, so it’s important to keep an eye on them with regular diabetic eye exams performed by the team at Beraja Medical Institute. 

The first step of a diabetic eye exam is a vision exam with an eye chart. On the chart are letters of different sizes that your provider asks you to read. Once this part is complete, they give you special eye drops to dilate your pupils.

Once your pupils are wide open, your provider uses an illuminated magnifying glass to view inside them. They examine your retina, your optic nerve, and all of the blood vessels throughout the back of your eye. Then, they use a slit lamp to view your cornea (the clear front surface of your eye). Your eyes stay dilated for about six hours after the exam, so you’ll need to arrange for a ride home.

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Why are diabetic eye exams important?

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Everyone needs to get regular eye exams, but patients with diabetes need to be especially diligent in checking their eyes. If you have diabetes, the condition affects many unexpected parts of your body. Diabetes boosts your risk for several serious eye conditions like cataracts or glaucoma, and it can lead to an especially serious condition called diabetic retinopathy.

Diabetic retinopathy happens when the blood vessels in your retina, the light-sensitive part of the back of your eye, become damaged. As the condition progresses, your vision declines. Before you lose your vision completely, you might notice a few of these symptoms:

• Eye floaters

• Blurriness

• Dark spots in your vision

• Trouble focusing

• Distorted colors

In most cases, diabetic retinopathy affects both eyes at the same time. However, it can affect just one eye, so you should make an appointment at Beraja Medical Institute if you notice these symptoms in just one eye too.

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How often should I get diabetic eye exams?

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The frequency with which you should get diabetic eye exams depends on the type of diabetes that you have. If you’re an adult with Type 1 diabetes, you should get your first diabetic eye exam within five years of getting your diagnosis. After your first, you should return once a year for additional exams.

If you’re an adult with Type 2 diabetes, you need to book your first diabetic eye exam as soon as possible after your diagnosis. You’ll need to come back at least once yearly for diabetic eye exams, but if you already have eye problems, your provider might suggest that you book your appointments more frequently.

To book your next diabetic eye exam, don’t hesitate to call Beraja Medical Institute for an appointment, or you can request one online at any time.

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