Diabetes can have a major impact on your vision, yet many misconceptions exist about how it affects the eyes. Let’s debunk some common myths and uncover the facts about keeping your eyes healthy when managing diabetes.
Myth 1: Diabetes Doesn’t Affect My Eyes If My Blood Sugar Is Under Control
Fact: While managing blood sugar levels is essential for overall health, it’s not a guarantee against eye problems. Even with controlled blood sugar, diabetes can damage the delicate blood vessels in your eyes, leading to conditions like diabetic retinopathy and macular edema. It’s important to have regular eye exams to detect these issues early, even if your blood sugar is stable.
Myth 2: You Only Need an Eye Exam If You Have Vision Problems.
Fact: Waiting for vision changes before seeing an eye doctor can be a risky approach for people with diabetes. Many diabetes-related eye conditions, like diabetic retinopathy, develop slowly and don’t cause symptoms until they are advanced. Annual dilated eye exams allow eye doctors to detect subtle changes in your retina and offer treatment before vision loss occurs.
Myth 3: Wearing Sunglasses Won’t Make a Difference for Diabetic Eyes
Fact: Protecting your eyes from UV light is especially important for people with diabetes. UV rays can speed up the progression of conditions like cataracts, which develop more quickly in those with diabetes. Wearing sunglasses that block 100% of UVA and UVB rays can help protect the health of your eyes and slow down damage caused by sun exposure.
Take Charge of Your Eye Health with Low Vision Solutions of Pennsylvania
Managing diabetes is about more than just blood sugar—it’s about protecting your overall health, including your vision. Regular eye exams, a healthy lifestyle, and wearing proper eye protection are all part of maintaining good eye health with diabetes. At Low Vision Solutions of Pennsylvania in Camp Hill, we offer diabetic eye care and can help you take proactive steps to safeguard your vision.
Contact us on 717-210-5424 to schedule your diabetic eye exam and ensure your vision remains clear and healthy.