Eye Surgery Procedures & Treatment

Annual Eye Exams & Diabetic Eye Disease

Talking to Your Eye Doctor About Diabetic Eye Prevention
The longer you have diabetes, the greater your risk of developing diabetic retinopathy – but there is much you can do to promote healthy vision.

Manage your diabetes. Make healthy eating and physical activity part of your daily routine. Take oral diabetes medications or insulin as directed.

Monitor your blood sugar level. You may need to check and record your blood sugar level at least several times a day – or more if you’re ill or under stress. Careful monitoring is the only way to make sure that your blood sugar level remains within your target range.

Keep your blood pressure and cholesterol under control. High blood pressure and high cholesterol increase the risk of vision loss. Eating healthy foods, exercising regularly and losing excess weight can help. Sometimes medication is needed as well.

If you smoke or use other types of tobacco, ask your eye doctor to help you quit. Smoking increases your risk of various diabetes complications, including diabetic retinopathy. Talk to your eye doctor about ways to stop smoking or to stop using other types of tobacco.

Take stress seriously. If you’re stressed, it’s easy to abandon your usual diabetes management routine. The hormones your body may produce in response to prolonged stress may prevent insulin from working properly, which only makes matters worse. To take control, set limits. Prioritize your tasks. Learn relaxation techniques. Get plenty of sleep.