Can Dry Eyes Cause Headaches?
The discomfort and eye strain from dry eye syndrome can lead to headaches. […]
Protecting Your Vision with Diabetic Eye Exams
Managing diabetes means paying attention to all aspects of your health, including your eyes. Diabetes can affect vision, sometimes before symptoms are noticeable.
At Prairie Vision, we provide comprehensive diabetic eye exams using diagnostic technology, including Optos retinal imaging, to detect early signs of eye disease and prevent complications.
Because of the risks posed by diabetes, it’s recommended that you undergo annual eye exams. At Prairie Vision, our eye doctors in Wainwright and Vermilion provide comprehensive diabetic eye exams to help protect your long-term eye health.
Book Appointment
How to Prepare for Your Diabetic Eye Exam
Preparing for your diabetic eye exam is simple. Please bring the following items:
- Your Alberta personal health care card
- Your current glasses and sunglasses
- If you wear contact lenses, please wear them to the appointment and bring your glasses
- A list of any medications you are currently taking
- If you have third-party insurance, check your coverage and bring your plan details (check our list of accepted insurance providers or contact us if you have questions)stomized exam schedule tailored to your needs.
How Diabetes Affects Your Eyes
While diabetes can sometimes cause temporary blurred vision due to fluctuating blood sugar, the long-term risks are more significant. High blood sugar can damage the delicate blood vessels in the retina, leading to more serious complications over time.
In the short term, you may notice blurred vision caused by changes in fluid levels, which can affect your ability to focus. However, over time, untreated high blood sugar levels can permanently damage the retina, leading to different conditions.
Diabetic retinopathy occurs when damage causes your retinal blood vessels to weaken, bulge, and leak into the retina.
As the disease gets worse, blood vessels can close off and deprive oxygen to the retina. To compensate, your eyes grow new abnormal blood vessels that break easily, increase intraocular pressure, cause scarring, lead to floaters, and impair vision.
Complications caused by diabetic retinopathy can also lead to diabetic macular edema. Leaking fluids from damaged blood vessels can collect under the macula, the part of the eye responsible for sharp, central vision, causing swelling (edema) and partial vision loss.
As abnormal blood vessels grow in the eyes, they can block the eye’s drainage system. When blood and fluids leaking from broken vessels have nowhere to drain, internal eye pressure can become dangerously high.
When this happens, it can cause glaucoma, a progressive eye disease that damages the optic nerve.
Cataracts can be caused by diabetes when blood sugar collects in the aqueous humor, the fluid between the lens and the cornea that supplies the lens with nutrients and oxygen. High blood sugar levels in the aqueous humor can cause the lens to swell, leading to blurred and cloudy vision.
Optos Retinal Imaging: A Key Tool in Diabetic Eye Care
At Prairie Vision, we use technology like Optos retinal imaging to get a detailed view of your retina, optic nerve, and blood vessels. This wide-angle, high-definition imaging helps our team detect early signs of damage, such as those caused by diabetes, that may not be visible during a traditional exam.
Optos imaging is quick, comfortable, and noninvasive, helping us take early action to protect your vision with relevant and helpful technology.
Take Control of Your Eye Health Today
Managing diabetes means staying proactive about your eye health. Regular, thorough eye exams can detect early signs of diabetic eye disease before symptoms appear, helping prevent vision loss and maintain your quality of life.
At Prairie Vision, our team combines diagnostic technology, including Optos retinal imaging, with personalized care to monitor your eye health and provide guidance tailored to your needs.
Schedule your comprehensive diabetic eye exam today and focus on your long-term eye health.
Book AppointmentCome Visit Our Locations
Wainwright
We serve patients of all ages from Wainwright, Viking, Provost, Lloydminster, Macklin, and the surrounding areas.
Our Address
- 2802 15th Ave, Unit 2
- Wainwright, AB T9W 0A4
Contact Us
- Phone: 587-606-0270
- Fax: 780-842-3443
- Email: [email protected]
Our Hours
Monday:
9:30 AM – 5:30 PM
Tuesday:
8:30 AM – 5:30 PM
Wednesday:
8:30 AM – 5:30 PM
Thursday:
8:30 AM – 5:30 PM
Friday:
8:30 AM – 5:30 PM
Saturday:
Closed
Sunday:
Closed
Vermilion
We serve patients of all ages from Kitscoty, Mannville, Elk Point, Dewberry, and the surrounding areas.
Our Address
- 5010 50 Street
- Vermilion, AB T9X 1M5
Contact Us
- Phone: 587-606-0394
- Fax: 780-853-6504
- Email: [email protected]
Our Hours
Monday:
9:30 AM – 5:00 PM
Tuesday:
9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Wednesday:
9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Thursday:
9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Friday:
9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Saturday:
Closed
Sunday:
Closed
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Our Locations
Wainwright
- 2802 15th Ave, Unit 2
- Wainwright, AB T9W 0A4
- Phone: 587-606-0270
- Fax: 780-842-3443
- Email: [email protected]
Vermilion
- 5010 50 Street
- Vermilion, AB T9X 1M5
- Phone: 587-606-0394
- Fax: 780-853-6504
- Email: [email protected]