Diabetic Eye Exams in Columba & Eldon

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Eye Care Is Part of Diabetes Care

Over 34 million Americans have diabetes, and an additional 88 million are considered prediabetic. Considering that about 20% of people first learn they have the disease through a comprehensive eye exam, optometrists are well-positioned to play a role in diabetes management. 

People with diabetes should have annual eye exams—and sometimes more often depending on their unique situation. At Family Focus Eyecare, we have the knowledge, experience, and technology to support our patients with diabetes.

We’ll thoroughly examine your eyes, learn about your health history, and make recommendations to help preserve your sight.

Make managing your ocular health a part of your overall diabetes management strategy. Book an appointment for a diabetic eye exam today.

What Is Diabetes?

Diabetes is a chronic condition characterized by high blood sugar. When your body takes in food, a hormone called insulin helps glucose from that food reach your cells and provide energy.

When your body doesn’t make insulin or doesn’t use insulin effectively, glucose stays in the blood instead of reaching your cells. Too much glucose in the blood causes health problems over time, and some of those problems impact your eyes.

Diabetes is always serious, but it can be managed. A healthy diet and plenty of exercise can help maintain your health. And regular eye exams can help maintain your sight.

How Does Diabetes Impact Eyes?

Health problems like kidney disease, nerve damage, stroke, heart disease, and dental issues can all result from diabetes, as well as a variety of ocular conditions.

For adults, diabetes is the leading cause of new cases of blindness. It increases your risk of developing vision-threatening eye diseases, including:

Technology Helps Us Save Your Sight

Family Focus Eyecare invests in the technology necessary to care for diabetic eyes. We examine the impact of diabetes on your ocular health and watch carefully for any changes in your eyes over time. 

Fundus Photography

We use fundus photography to take a detailed photograph of the inside back surface of your eye. This area is called the fundus. It’s made up of the retina, macula, optic disc, and retinal blood vessels.

By looking at this area through the pupil, we can watch for diabetic retinopathy or diabetic macular edema signs.

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is an imaging technology that takes a cross-section picture of your retina using light waves. It’s noninvasive and helps us see the various layers of the retina.

Retinal imaging is important in diabetic eye exams. It allows us to watch for changes in the eye’s vascular system that could indicate diabetic eye disease.

During a diabetic eye exam, your optometrist will likely dilate your pupils. Dilating (widening) them gives us a larger window to look through and see what’s going on inside your eyes.

Dilating drops are placed in your eyes and, after 20–30 minutes, your eyes will be fully dilated and ready for examination. Your vision might be a little blurry, and you could be sensitive to light following the exam, but this is normal.

Bring sunglasses with you and have someone else drive you to and from the exam. Your eyes will go back to normal after a few hours.

Get a Diabetic Eye Exam

More than half of people with diabetes aren’t routinely following their eye exam schedule. If you have diabetes, make eye care a priority, and please book your appointment today.

Visit One of Our Locations

Columbia

We are in Westbury-1.5 miles further west from our old W. Broadway location, near Toasty Goat and the new Club Carwash

  • 725 S. Scott Blvd Suite 101
  • Columbia, MO 65203

Eldon

Our Eldon location is on Oak Street, two blocks north of the post office and between North and High Street.

  • 115 N Oak St
  • Eldon, MO 65026

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