Who we serve
People With Diabetes
Diabetic retinopathy develops without symptoms until it is advanced, so normal vision provides no reassurance. An annual retinal examination detects damage while it is still treatable and before sight is affected.
“My doctor keeps telling me to get my eyes checked and my vision seems fine.”
Diabetic retinopathy remains a leading cause of preventable vision loss in working age adults, and it stays that way because it is silent. Blood vessel damage accumulates in the retina for years while vision is unaffected.
Annual screening changes that. Microaneurysms, small haemorrhages and early retinal swelling are visible on imaging long before they affect sight, and finding them changes both the eye care plan and often the diabetes management.
Widefield imaging matters particularly here, because diabetic changes often appear in the retinal periphery first. Capturing over 80 percent of the retina in a single image finds what a narrower view would miss, and the images are compared directly year on year.
What matters most for this group
- My vision is fine
- That is precisely why screening is needed. Retinopathy causes no symptoms until it is advanced.
- I do not want to be dilated
- Widefield imaging can often be used instead, which saves several hours of blurred vision.
- Will my doctor be told?
- Yes. Findings are reported back to whoever manages your diabetes, because retinal findings inform overall management.
Where to start
People With Diabetes: common questions
How often?
At least annually for type 1 and type 2, more frequently once retinopathy is present, and more frequently during pregnancy.
Can changes be reversed?
Early changes can stabilise and sometimes improve with good glucose control. Advanced damage tends to be permanent, which is the argument for early screening.
Book an appointment
Two patients an hour, so there is time to talk about what actually brought you in. Call (480) 706-3937 or request a time online.