As diabetes continues to affect more New Zealanders, our practice is committed to providing education around the crucial link between diabetes and eye health. Prevention is always better than cure and by detecting diabetes early, lifestyle changes can prevent many people from developing Type 2 diabetes and further complications as a result.
What is Type 2 Diabetes?
Type 2 diabetes is when the body doesn’t produce enough insulin, or the cells in the body don’t recognise the insulin that is present. While many people associate diabetes with issues like blood sugar and insulin, further complications from diabetes can lead to a group of eye problems known as diabetic eye disease. This includes:
- Diabetic Retinopathy: High blood sugar can damage the blood vessels in the retina, leading to leaking, swelling, or abnormal new blood vessels that can affect vision.
- Diabetic Macular Edema (DME): The macula, the part of the retina responsible for sharp vision, can swell due to fluid buildup.
- Cataracts: People with diabetes are more likely to develop cataracts at an earlier age.
- Glaucoma: Diabetes can also increase the risk of glaucoma, where damage to the optic nerve can lead to vision loss.
If left unchecked, these conditions can cause blurry vision, visual impairment, and even blindness. Regular comprehensive eye checks can help detect diabetes early, sometimes before symptoms appear. Our optometrists examine the structures of your eyes, including the retina, blood vessels, and optic nerves, for irregularities that could indicate diabetes.
We recommend having an eye test every two years and if you have any concerns about your eye health in the meantime, get in touch with your optometrist.
Signs You Should Not Ignore
While diabetic eye disease can be silent in its early stages, there are some warning signs you should never ignore:
- Blurry or fluctuating vision
- Dark spots or “floaters”
- Difficulty seeing at night.
If you notice any of these symptoms, make an appointment with your optometrist immediately.
Your Eyes Are Safe With Us
Black Gates Optometrists is a founding member of the Wellington Diabetic Retinal Screening Programme. We won all three categories of the Inaugural Health Innovation Awards in 2003! New technology, knowledge and treatments have only improved the service we are proud to continue to deliver.
Regular full eye examinations and scheduled retinopathy screenings are essential for maintaining optimal eye health and detecting potential issues early. Comprehensive eye exams assess both vision quality and overall eye health, allowing optometrists to spot early signs of conditions like glaucoma, cataracts, macular degeneration, and diabetic retinopathy, often before symptoms are noticeable. For individuals with diabetes, regular retinopathy screenings are particularly critical, as diabetic retinopathy can progress silently, leading to vision loss if untreated. Early detection through these exams enables timely intervention, which can prevent or minimise damage and preserve vision. By staying proactive with routine screenings, patients can enjoy better long-term eye health and avoid many preventable complications.
Retinal screenings are invaluable in grading and monitoring your retinal health, and allow for timely intervention that save eyesight and expense. Retinal screenings are provided free when you are enrolled and referred into the system by your doctor.
Regular full eye exams enable us to monitor for cataracts and glaucoma as well as everything else, including making sure that your vision is 100% as good is it can be.
If you Already Have Diabetes
Schedule yearly eye exams if you have already been diagnosed with diabetes. Our advanced imaging technologies like retinal photography and OCT scans can detect early signs of damage before they impact your vision.
Managing diabetes is essential to keeping your eyes healthy. Here are some key steps:
- Control Blood Sugar: Keeping your blood sugar in check is the most effective way to prevent damage to your eyes.
- Monitor Blood Pressure and Cholesterol: High blood pressure and cholesterol can exacerbate the effects of diabetes on your vision.
- Quit Smoking: Smoking increases the risk of diabetic retinopathy and other eye complications.
On World Diabetes Day, 14 November 2024, we are encouraging everyone with diabetes to make their eye health a priority. Book an eye exam with us today and learn more about how you can safeguard your vision. With proper management and regular check-ups, you can prevent diabetes from taking away one of your most precious senses—your sight.
Is it time to come and see us?
You can schedule an eye test in Johnsonville or Lower Hutt with us with our easy online booking tool. Choose your preferred optometrist in Lower Hutt or Johnsonville and book your eye test here at a time to suit you.
It’s easy to book an appointment online with our optometrists at Johnsonville or Lower Hutt. Just head to our bookings page and pick a time and day to suit.
