Diabetes is the leading cause of blindness in adults age 20 to 74, so it’s particularly important for people with Diabetes to regularly see their Optometrist, because they are at increased risk of developing eye complications from their disease.
Eye Disease rarely presents with visual symptoms. Early detection is paramount in protecting against diabetic retinopathy.
Here are some eye care tips:
- Schedule regular appointments with your eye doctor to insure that eye problems can be detected early and treated.
- Maintain control of blood glucose levels.
- Keep your blood pressure under control. High blood pressure can lead to eye disease, so if you have high blood pressure as well as diabetes, you want to ensure that both are properly managed.
- Insure your blood cholesterol levels are under control.
- Eat a healthy diet.
- In my previous blog I mentioned that there are no health benefits to smoking. If you do smoke-take steps to quit today.
- Make exercise a priority. Schedule it in your day as you would any other appointment.
When Should I Call my Eye Doctor?
If you experience any visual problems or notice any changes in your vision. You should seek medical care for your eyes immediately. Symptoms to be aware of:
- Blurred vision
- Black spots
- Flashes of light
- Partial or complete loss of vision in one or both eyes
