Diabetic Eye Exams in Connecticut

When it comes to finding the best and most comprehensive diabetic eye exams in Waterbury, CT., Prospect, CT., Southbury, CT., and Farmington, CT., think New Insight Family Eyecare. We have been providing the people of Connecticut with quality eye care for over 30 years and we understand precisely how to treat, care for, and prevent diabetic eye disease.

What is Diabetic Eye Disease?

Diabetic Eye Disease is an all-encompassing term for various eye health issues that can occur in people with diabetes. These conditions can include:

● Diabetic Retinopathy
● Diabetic macular edema
● Cataracts
● Glaucoma

What to Expect From a Diabetic Eye Exam

● Visual Acuity Test
This test will measure your acuity against an eye chart to determine the clarity and sharpness of your vision. If there has been a decrease in your visual acuity since your last exam, your doctor may also want to perform a refraction.

● Pupil Dilation
Your doctor will use special eye drops to dilate your pupil. This will allow them to check for diabetes-related damage at the back of your eye. Your Pupils will remain dilated for two to three hours so remember to bring some dark sunglasses to your exam as your eyes will be sensitive to light. Also, you may want to consider having someone drive you home following your appointment.

● Fundoscopy
With this exam, doctors can inspect the back of the eyeball where the retina, its blood vessels, and the optic nerve reside. During the procedure, your doctor may choose to use any of the following instruments:

● Direct Ophthalmoscope
A small handheld tool with a bright light that, when positioned very close to the eye, allows the doctor to see through to focus on the very back.

● Indirect Ophthalmoscope
With a large lens positioned close to your eye, the doctor shines a bright light in your eye to provide a broad angle view of the back of your eye.

● Silt Lamp
The doctor uses a table-mounted binocular microscope to gain a magnified 3D image of your retina, retinal blood vessels, and optic nerve.

● Fundus Photography
Your doctor may choose to have a high-resolution, wide-lens image taken of the back of your eye. This captures what your retina and optic nerve look like on the day of your diabetic eye exam to compare against future exams enabling your doctor to treat and detect any irregularities.

●  Glaucoma Test
Diabetes puts you at added risk of glaucoma, so your fundoscopy may include measuring your eye pressure and a detailed look at the optic nerve.

How Often Should You Get a Diabetic Eye Exam?

A routine comprehensive exam is essential to maintaining good eye health. To treat, prevent, and detect any vision deterioration or conditions, it’s necessary to visit the New Insight Family Eyecare team regularly. How often you visit your doctor depends on what type of diabetes you have.

● Adults With Type 1 Diabetes – within the first five years of your diagnosis and then yearly following that.

● Adults With Type 2 Diabetes – immediately following your diagnosis.