Diabetic Eye Care

Diabetic retinopathy, a top cause of vision loss in adults, affects half of all people with diabetes. If you have any type of diabetes, it’s essential to protect your vision with regular diabetic eye care from Nadezhda Nisimova, OD, and the team at Vistasite Eye Care in the Elmhurst neighborhood of Queens, New York. When you get regular eye exams, the Vistasite Eye Care team can diagnose and treat diabetic eye diseases before they cause vision loss. To schedule an appointment, call the New York City office or use the online booking feature today.

Why do I need diabetic eye care?

Diabetes causes high blood sugar, and high blood sugar damages the small blood vessels in your eyes. Without treatment, ongoing blood vessel damage leads to eye disease and vision loss.

What eye conditions require diabetic eye care?

Diabetes can lead to:

• Glaucoma
• Cataracts
• Diabetic retinopathy
• Diabetic macular edema

Diabetic retinopathy occurs when damaged blood vessels in the retina block the flow of blood. This forces fluids out of the vessel, causing swelling in an area of the retina called the macula. These changes can lead to vision loss.

What symptoms indicate I need diabetic eye care?

Diabetic retinopathy causes symptoms such as:

• Blurry vision
• Poor night vision
• Vision loss
• Colors appear faded
• Increased number of floaters
• Blank or dark areas in your field of vision

Most patients with diabetic retinopathy have symptoms in both eyes.

How often do I need diabetic eye care?

People with Type 1 diabetes should get a comprehensive eye exam within five years of their diagnosis. If you’re diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, you should schedule an eye exam at Vistasite Eye Care right away.

After your first eye exam, your Vistasite Eye Care provider recommends when to schedule follow-up diabetic eye care appointments based on the health of your eyes.

What should I expect during diabetic eye care checkups?

Your Vistasite Eye Care provider performs a comprehensive eye exam at every checkup. After checking your vision and screening for glaucoma and cataracts, they dilate and examine the structures inside your eyes.

During a dilated eye exam, they can see signs of diabetic eye disease and begin treatment long before you have symptoms. That’s why it’s so important to have routine diabetic eye care appointments.

Do I need to continue diabetic eye care at home?

The only way to protect your vision is to control your blood sugar. The primary steps for preventing high blood sugar include:

• Following a healthy eating plan
• Monitoring your sugar and carb intake
• Getting regular exercise
• Stopping smoking
• Losing weight (if needed)
• Maintaining healthy blood pressure
• Keeping your cholesterol in the normal range
• Taking medication to lower blood sugar, blood sugar, and cholesterol 

If you have questions about diabetic eye care, call Vistasite Eye Care or book an appointment online today.