Diabetic Eye Care
Diabetes can harm your eyes. Along with the many unpleasant side effects of the disease, diabetes can damage the small blood vessels in your retina, leading to a condition called diabetic retinopathy. Diabetes also increases your risk of having glaucoma, cataracts or other eye problems. Below are some diabetic eye care tips to help you take charge of your disease and protect your vision:
Maintain regular vision exams: Regular appointments with your eye doctor should be scheduled at least once a year. During a thorough eye exam in Phoenix, your doctor will check the blood vessels in your eyes for early signs of damage from diabetes.
Keep your blood sugar under control: Over time, high blood sugar can damage the tiny blood vessels in your eyes, resulting in serious vision problems. High blood sugar can also cause blurred vision caused by having too much sugar and water in the lens of the eye, which is in front of the retina.
Monitor your blood pressure: High blood pressure alone can lead to eye disease, so keep it in check. If you have high blood pressure and diabetes, you need to be even more careful about your health.
Monitor your cholesterol levels: All it takes is a blood test to find out how much “bad” LDL and “good” HDL cholesterol you have. Too much LDL is linked to blood vessel damage.
Eat for wellness: Your diet has a major impact on your blood sugar. Pack your diet full of fruits, vegetables, whole grains and lean protein. If you struggle with maintaining a healthy diet, you can get ideas and encouragement from a nutritionist.
If you smoke, quit: Smoking causes damage to your blood vessels which makes you more likely to end up with eye trouble. It’s not easy to kick the habit, so don’t hesitate to ask your doctor for help with ways to quit.
Move more: Exercise can have a big influence on blood sugar. If you use insulin or medication to lower your blood sugar, ask your doctor when you should check your levels before and during your workouts as well as what type of workout you should do.
To keep your vision sharp, it’s important to take great care of your health so you can avoid problems related to diabetes. For more information about diabetic eye care or to schedule a vision exam with one of our doctors, contact Associated Retina Consultants at 602-242-4928 or associatedretinaconsultants.com today.