Preserve your vision
In addition to your annual eye exam, call your eye doctor if:
- Your vision becomes blurry
- You have trouble reading
- You are seeing double
- Your eyes hurt
- Your eyes get and stay red
- You feel pressure in your eye
- You are seeing spots or notice that your side vision is changing
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Diabetes is a leading cause of blindness in children and adults. But if
you have diabetes, the power to control eye problems is in your hands. The
science of how diabetes affects your eyes can be a hard to understand, but
learning how to take care of your eyes can be easy.
Learn about your eyes
- A little science
Diabetes can affect several areas of
your eye, but most often it affects your retina. This is the
area at the back of the eye where light strikes. There is one term for
this damage: retinopathy. This word actually describes many different
forms of eye problems.
- A yearly exam
Injury to the retina can build up over a
long period of time. An eye doctor (ophthalmologist) can see this long
before you notice any problems. That is why an eye exam every year has to
be part of your diabetes plan. An eye exam involves dilating your pupil
and taking a good hard look.
Protect your eyes
- Control your blood sugar
According to the experts,
people who control their blood sugar well are four times less likely to
suffer eye problems. If you already have some damage, controlling blood
sugar can prevent the disease from getting worse.
- Control your
blood pressure
High blood pressure can make eye problems worse.
For example, high blood pressure can cause very small amounts of bleeding
in the eye. Over time, those small amounts of blood add up to vision loss.
Ask your doctor to help you find ways to reduce your blood pressure.
- Exercise
wisely
Some kinds of exercise can make eye problems worse.
Your doctor may not want you to lift weights because this raises blood
pressure. Any exercise that includes jumping or impact can cause damage to
the eye. Talk to your doctor about an exercise plan that will work for
you.
- See your eye doctor
Your eye doctor can help you treat and
improve your eyesight, but only if he or she notices problems early. There
is no reason to think that poor vision has to be part of your life with
diabetes.
Last modified
04/22/08
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