Diabetic Eye Examinations

If you have been diagnosed with diabetes, your doctor may ask you to see an optometrist to check the health of your eyes. Diabetes is a vascular condition which can affect the blood vessels in our body (including our eyes) if not well controlled.

If the diabetes is not well controlled, it can lead to diabetic retinopathy which is a condition where the blood vessels inside our eyes start to leak into the retina which could cause permanent damage if felt untreated. All patients with diabetes are at risk of developing diabetic retinopathy and many are asymptomatic until the condition is advanced. It is recommended that all diabetics should have a diabetic eye examination as early detection and treatment is important.

What to expect in a diabetic eye examination and how is it different from a regular eye examination?

During a diabetic eye examination, we specifically focus on the health of your retina and the blood vessels. This comprehensive eye health check will require us to put eye drops into the eyes which will cause your pupils to dilate.

The eye drops will take 30-45 minutes to activate. With a dilated pupil, it will allow your optometrist to check the integrity of your blood vessels and retina more accurately to ensure that there are no signs of diabetic retinopathy. If there are signs of diabetic retinopathy, the optometrist may require additional testing.

Following the eye examination, your vision will remain blurry for a few hours as the eye drops will take time to wear off. Your pupils will remain dilated during this time so we recommend that you bring a pair of sunglasses. We ask that you do not drive for a couple of hours as your vision will be blurry and you will be very sensitive to light.