Diabetic Eye Exams in Oakville, ON

Diabetic retinopathy occurs when unregulated blood sugar levels damage blood vessels in the retina. If left unchecked, fluid leaking from the damaged retina can also cause swelling in the nearby macula, which is responsible for central vision. This condition is called diabetic macular edema.

Damage from diabetic macular edema can affect our ability to read, drive, and recognize faces. This damage is treatable if caught early – so annual diabetic exams are imperative to early detection.

Diabetic adults are over twice as likely to develop glaucoma than adults without diabetes. Glaucoma is a type of eye disease caused by high pressure inside the eye, which can damage the optic nerve.

Glaucoma usually has no obvious symptoms before permanent vision loss begins to occur. Vision loss starts with your peripheral vision and can eventually cause total blindness. Routine eye exams to measure the pressure in our eyes represent the best strategy for identifying glaucoma early so that its irreversible effects can be controlled.

Cataracts occur when the natural lens in a person’s eye begins to cloud over, obscuring their vision. This phenomenon often occurs as the result of ageing or an eye injury, but it is much more common in people with diabetes. Eye exams are vital for diagnosing cataracts and determining treatment options.