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Diabetic eye exam

Diabetes can damage the back of your eye long before you notice any change. A yearly dilated eye exam finds problems early, when treatment can best protect your vision.

Key points

Who’s at risk
Anyone with diabetes. It can damage the retina long before you notice any change in your vision.
How it’s found
Drops widen your pupils so your eye doctor can see the whole retina. Photos or scans can show early swelling.
How often
Once a year for most people with diabetes, unless your eye doctor tells you otherwise.
Treatment
Injections into the eye and laser treatment can protect your sight. They work best when damage is found early.
A blood sugar meter with test strips and a lancing device, part of living with diabetes

Diabetes can harm the small blood vessels in the retina, the light-sensing layer at the back of your eye. This is called diabetic retinopathy. It often has no symptoms until it is advanced. You can see well and still have damage that needs treatment.

Diabetes also raises your risk of other eye problems. These include swelling in the center of the retina (diabetic macular edema), cataracts and glaucoma. High or changing blood sugar can also make your vision blurry for a while, even when your eyes are healthy.

A diabetic eye exam looks for these problems. Finding them early, and treating them, is the best way to protect your sight. Today’s treatments, such as injections into the eye and laser treatment, work best when damage is found early.

A diabetic eye exam is a comprehensive eye exam with a close look at the retina.

  • Your eye doctor will ask about your diabetes, your blood sugar control and your other health conditions.
  • You will read an eye chart so your eye doctor can measure how clearly you see.
  • Your eye doctor will check the pressure inside your eyes.
  • Eye drops will widen (dilate) your pupils, so your eye doctor can see the whole retina and its blood vessels.
  • Your eye doctor may take detailed pictures or scans of the retina. These can show swelling or changes that are hard to see otherwise, and they help compare your eyes from one visit to the next.

Your eye doctor will explain what they found and whether you need treatment or a visit to a retina specialist. Ask them to share the results with the doctor who manages your diabetes, so your whole care team knows how your eyes are doing.

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