If you have diabetes, it can affect all parts of your body, including your eyes. If your blood glucose levels are too high or regularly out of control, you can cause a lot of irreparable damage to your eyes. That's why you should make sure you get your eyes checked regularly. For diabetics, the recommendation is to get your eyes checked every year. So, what should be happening when you go see your eye doctor?

Eye Pressure Check

People who have diabetes tend to be at higher risk for glaucoma. One of the signs of glaucoma is a higher pressure inside your eye. That means that your optometrist or ophthalmologist is going to have to check it each and every time that you go see them. Not only does that allow them to know if there are changes, but it will first allow them to make sure that they have a good baseline of what your personal eye pressure is. While there is a general standard eye pressure, like there is for 98.6 being the standard body temperature, the fact is that people tend to have some variation. Your personal eye pressure may be a little higher than the standard normally. But if your doctor doesn't know that, then they may start to worry about you even if there is nothing to worry about. So, having a baseline number will let them know if you are actually having problems with glaucoma. 

Diabetic Retinopathy Check

Your retina is what actually allows your eye to see.  The cornea and the lens of your eye focus the light and shoot it onto your retina so that you can see whatever it is you are looking at. When the light hits the retina, then it sends out impulses that trigger the optic nerve, which sends the impulses to your brain which translates those impulses and lets you know what it is you are looking at. Your retina has blood vessels that run through it. Diabetes can damage those blood vessels, damaging or scarring your retina, which can cause your vision to be impaired or completely lost. 

If you have diabetes, it's important that you keep track of your blood sugar and keep it under control. It can really affect your health and your body, up to and including your eyes. Getting your eyes checked yearly will keep your eyes healthy and your vision nice and clear. Click to find out more.