Why Regular Retina Exams Are Essential for People with Diabetes

Living with diabetes means there’s always something to manage — numbers to check, meals to plan, medications to take, routines to maintain. With so much to stay on top of, it’s understandable that eye care doesn’t always feel urgent. But high blood sugar can quietly damage the tiny blood vessels in your retina, a condition known as diabetic retinopathy, long before you notice any vision changes. Regular retina exams help catch those silent changes early, before you experience lasting damage to your vision.

What to Expect During a Retina Exam

A retina exam is quick, comfortable, and incredibly informative. Your visit may include:

• Dilation: Eye drops gently widen your pupils, giving the doctor a clear view of the retina at the back of your eye.
• OCT Scans: Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) produces high-resolution images of the retina’s layers, revealing swelling or fluid buildup that can’t be seen otherwise.
• Fluorescein angiography (FA): After your eyes are dilated, a dye is injected into a vein in your arm. As it moves through your eye’s blood vessels, a special camera captures images that show areas that may be leaking, blocked, or damaged.

These tests work together to build a complete picture of your retinal health, often in under an hour.

Why Early Detection Matters

The goal of a retinal exam isn’t just to find disease, but also to prevent vision loss. Caught early, diabetic retinopathy and related conditions can often be managed with treatment. But if changes go unnoticed, they can lead to irreversible vision loss. Early detection gives you and your provider more options for care, protecting your vision before it’s compromised.

Protect Your Vision with Retina Consultants of Texas

A yearly retina exam is one of the most effective ways to protect both your sight and your independence. At Retina Consultants of Texas, our specialists use the most advanced diagnostic tools and treatments to help you protect your vision and your quality of life. Schedule your diabetic eye exam today and take the next step toward lifelong eye health.