Are you someone suffering from diabetes? If so, your eyes need more attention than most people will ever realize. Vision loss due to diabetes is a serious problem, but it can also be prevented. According to data from the Centers for Disease Control, over 90% of diabetes-related vision loss can be prevented through routine diabetic eye exams. 

So, how often should you go to diabetic eye care in Houston, TX? What exactly happens during these visits? Let us answer all your questions through the following sections. 

Go for a Diabetic Eye Exam for Atleast Once a Year 

Following this rule is simple. Schedule a complete diabetic eye exam at least once a year. It does not matter if your vision is fine. You must stick to this one diabetic eye care rule. 

Why? It is because diabetic eye disease has no early symptoms. The damage in your blood vessels in your retina occurs silently for years. Before you notice any changes, blurry vision or dark spots appear in your retina. 

At Focus Refined Eye Care in Houston, Dr. Bimal Patel, OD, uses Optomap Imaging to get 360° photos of both your eyes. It happens without dilating your eyes and making early detection possible. 

Visit Your Doctor Frequently, Only if He Recommends You

A yearly diabetic eye checkup is the baseline. However, some patients need frequent visits, including those who:

• You have been recently diagnosed with diabetes

• You are showing signs of diabetic retinopathy or macular edema

• You are struggling with poorly controlled blood sugar 

• You are a pregnant woman with diabetes

In the end, it is your eye specialist who can tell you about your frequency of visits. It helps you to get a specific picture of your overall eye health. 

Know the Conditions Your Eye Exam Tries to Diagnose

The annual diabetic eye exams help you to find out about several serious eye conditions, such as:

• Diabetic Retinopathy 

High blood sugar damages your retinal blood vessels. It causes them to leak or grow abnormally. This is one of the leading causes of preventable blindness in adults. 

• Diabetic Macular Edema (DME)

Here, fluid builds up in the macula of your eyes. It impairs your sharp central vision required for reading or driving. Nearly half of all the people with diabetic retinopathy will eventually develop DME. 

• Cataracts 

Diabetes at a young age increases your risk of developing cataracts compared to the average population. 

• Glaucoma 

People with diabetes are twice as likely to develop glaucoma as others. It damages their optic nerve and may result in permanent blindness. 

Don’t Wait for Eye Symptoms to Sound the Alarm

One of the biggest problems faced by diabetic patients is waiting until something terribly goes wrong. You can watch out for these signs and act on them immediately:

• Blurry or fluctuating vision

• Dark spots or floaters in your eyes

• Flashing lights 

• Difficulty in seeing colors 

If any of these occur, contact your eye specialist immediately. Don’t wait for your next scheduled visit. You can also call or book an appointment at Focus Refined Eye Care. Here, Dr. Bimal Patel and his team check your eyes using advanced technologies and methods to prescribe proper solutions. 

How to Support Your Eye Health Between Visits?

Your lifestyle choices directly impact your eye health. In between your doctor’s appointment, you can do the following things:

• Control your overall blood sugar, blood pressure, and cholesterol levels. Your A1C matters for your eyes.

• Exercise on a consistent basis to improve your blood circulation and blood sugar management levels.

• Follow a healthy diet. Avoid smoking. It makes your diabetes and blood pressure levels harder to control. 

• Take all medications and follow suggestions exactly as prescribed by your healthcare team. 

Ready to Schedule Your Diabetic Eye Exam in Houston?

In the end, your health, including your eyes, does matter. At Focus Refined Eye Care, Dr. Bimal Patel creates a specialized diabetic care plan based on your individual needs. He combines the use of advanced technology with a warm, personalized approach. His clinic is located at 1901 Waugh Dr., Houston, TX 77006. You can visit him from Monday to Friday from 9 AM to 6 PM anytime. On Saturdays, a prior appointment is mandatory. 

Call us at 713-485-6033 or book your appointment for diabetic eye care in Houston, TX on our website today. 

FAQs

1. Is a Diabetic Eye Exam Different from a Regular Eye Exam?

Yes, a diabetic eye exam is different from your regular eye checkup. It involves looking for damage caused by high blood sugar, like retinopathy, macular edema, glaucoma, and cataracts. At Focus Refined Eye Care, we use retinal imaging and dilated eye exams to find your eye’s present condition. 

2. How Often Should a Diabetic Patient Have an Eye Exam?

It depends totally on your eye condition. While most of the eye specialists recommend a once-a-year eye checkup, others need frequent visits. It totally depends on an individual's eye health and blood sugar level. 

3. Can Diabetes Damage My Eyes Even if My Vision Seems Normal?

For many people, diabetic eye diseases often develop without any noticeable symptoms. In the early stages, it is best to have routine eye checkups.