Protect Your Eye Health with Comprehensive Exams
Diabetes affects a significant number of Canadians. Recent studies indicate that 1 in 3 Canadians lives with diabetes or pre-diabetes. Beyond its impact on overall health, diabetes can seriously affect your vision.
While many are aware of general health concerns related to diabetes, the impact on eye health is often overlooked. Notably, diabetes is the leading cause of blindness in adults.
Individuals with both type 1 and type 2 diabetes face an increased risk of developing eye conditions. Therefore, we strongly recommend a proactive approach: children and adults with diabetes should receive a comprehensive eye exam annually.
If you haven’t had an eye exam in the last 12 months, book your appointment with us today.
What Is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a systemic health condition that impacts the production of insulin, which is the hormone responsible for regulating your blood sugar.
In individuals with diabetes, issues with insulin can lead to prolonged periods of elevated blood sugar. Over time, high blood sugar can cause damage to your blood vessels, including the delicate vessels in your eyes.
What Is Diabetic Eye Disease?
Diabetic eye disease refers to a group of eye diseases, including diabetic retinopathy and diabetic macular edema, which are caused by complications from diabetes. Diabetes also increases the risk of other eye conditions, such as glaucoma and cataracts, which can impair vision.
In conjunction with maintaining tight control over your blood sugar, routine appointments with your healthcare providers can help you manage the risks of living with diabetes. Your optometrist is an important member of this team, as they can monitor the health of your blood vessels through your eyes using our diagnostic technology.
Learn more about these eye conditions and how we screen for them.
Diabetic retinopathy occurs when the delicate blood vessels of the eyes swell with elevated blood sugar levels. Over time, these blood vessels can become damaged and break, leaking fluid into the eyes.
Diabetic retinopathy often progresses slowly, with no visible symptoms until irreversible vision loss occurs. However, routine monitoring, including retinal imaging, can help your optometrist to detect signs of diabetic retinopathy and recommend treatment options before your vision is affected.
Diabetic macular edema occurs when the macula swells. This important part of the retina is responsible for your central vision and much of your colour vision. If left untreated, macular edema can lead to central vision loss, impacting your ability to read, write, or recognize faces.
OCT (optical coherence tomography) scans provide a powerful monitoring tool for diabetic retinopathy and macular edema, giving your optometrist a cross-sectional view of your eye to check for signs of swelling.
Glaucoma refers to a group of diseases that damage the optic nerve, which transmits visual information from your eyes to your brain. Glaucoma progresses without noticeable symptoms until vision loss occurs. Many forms of glaucoma involve increased eye pressure.
In individuals with diabetes, swelling and leaking blood vessels can cause increased pressure, leading to glaucoma. During your eye exam, your technician and optometrist will check your eye pressure, measure your visual field, and examine the health of your eye through retinal imaging and OCT.
While cataracts can be a normal part of aging, people living with diabetes are at risk of developing cataracts at a younger age and with a faster progression.
Cataracts occur when the normally clear lens of your eye becomes cloudy and opaque. They can cause hazy or foggy vision, impacting your ability to see clearly. Cataracts are monitored, and surgery may be recommended if your vision is significantly impaired.
Preventive Healthcare for Your Eyes
If you have diabetes, regular eye exams are vital for protecting your vision. We perform a close examination of the inside of your eye during these appointments to check for early indications of serious vision problems.
To get a clearer view of the back of your eye and its structures, we may dilate your pupils during a diabetic eye exam. This is a simple procedure: we place a few drops into your eyes, which temporarily widens the pupils.
Your eyes will be more sensitive to sunlight after dilation, so we recommend you bring sunglasses to your appointment.
Prioritize your eye health by booking your regular diabetic eye exams.
CAN YOUR GLASSES DO THIS?
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OUR FEATURED EYEWEAR BRANDS
Visit Our Location
We’re located on First Street, just across from the Lord Dufferin Centre. Parking is available behind the building with an accessible parking stall beside the entrance to the lot.
Our clinic has an accessible exam lane to accommodate individuals with wheelchairs or other mobility aids.
Our Address
Contact Information
- Phone: 519-941-6761
- Email: info@orangevilleoptometrists.ca
Our Hours
*Open on alternating Saturdays. Book an appointment in advance.
Our Google Reviews
What Patients are Saying
Amazing Doctors. Friendly and knowledgable staff. Makes the whole experience a pleasure. Highly recommended.
– Maureen
Prompt diagnosis of uveitis. Saved my vision. Forever greatful, thank you Dr. Costanzo
– G B
I have been seeing Dr Leblanc for years and now bring my son to see him as well. He is such a pleasure to deal with and although we only see him yearly, he remembers what’s going on in our lives and asks questions. He’s the best!
The reception staff are great as well!
– Trina
I’ve been going here for years. The staff are extremely helpful and very friendly. I especially find they answer all my questions and any concerns that I may have regarding eye care or even the right lenses to choose from. It’s always a pleasure to go there whether replacing my out dated frames or purchasing new frames and lenses for my eye care. They always inform me of specials too so I can add an additional option if desired.
– Kim
We drove from London for our appointment because they had my fiancé’s files. It was very worth the drive there. They were thorough, professional and friendly. We are very happy with our visit and look forward to returning soon to pick up the four new pairs of glasses!
Thank you to all the staff, Dmytro and Marlene
– June
