Diabetic Eye Care

There are five steps you can take to avoid eye complications caused by Diabetes:

1. Keep your blood sugar levels under tight control. High blood sugar levels may you’re your vision temporarily blurry. Studies have shown that you have a lot of control over what happens with your eyes.

2. Control blood pressure. High blood pressure can make eye problems worse3. Quit smoking.4. In general, we recommend that you see your eye care professional at least once a year

for a dilated eye exam. Having your regular doctor look at your eyes and having an eyeglass prescription tested by an optician is not enough. Only optometrists can detect the signs of retinopathy and treat it.

5. See your eye care professional if: o Your vision becomes

blurryo You have trouble reading

signs or bookso You see doubleo One or both of your eyes

hurto Your eyes get red and

stay that way o You feel pressure in your

eyeo You see spots or floaterso Straight lines do not look straight o You can’t see things off to the side as well as you used to

For more information please visit: http://www.diabetes.org/living-with-diabetes/complications/eye-complications/eye-

care.html#sthash.8powTPkk.dpuf