How to Diagnose Diabetes With an Eye Exam

Diabetes is a metabolic condition that can cause eye damage. People with diabetes develop cataracts, glaucoma and retinopathy more frequently than non-diabetics. As a result, getting an eye exam from an ophthalmologist can be helpful in diagnosing diabetes. Cataracts make parts of the lens of your eye opaque, reducing your vision. Glaucoma increases the pressure in your eye and can damage the optic nerve. In diabetic retinopathy, abnormal blood vessels in the eye damage the retina, causing vision problems and even blindness.

Instructions

Instructions

• 1

  Find a licensed ophthalmologist. An ophthalmologist is a medical doctor with specialized training in the eye's anatomy and in diseases of the eye. To find an ophthalmologist, ask your doctor for a recommendation, or check with your insurance company to find one who is covered under your plan.

• 2

  Contact the ophthalmologist's office to make an appointment. Explain to the doctor that you want an eye exam that will look for eye conditions associated with diabetes. These exams are part of what is called a comprehensive eye exam.

• 3

  Ask the ophthalmologist if you need to bring a friend or spouse to drive you home after the appointment. To properly examine your eyes, the doctor will dilate your pupils. This will make your vision blurry and, as a result, driving might not be advisable.

• 4

  Test your ability to see letters of different sizes on a chart with a visual acuity test. This is a standard test that most people have taken numerous times. Even though it is a familiar, routine test, it can quickly cue the doctor to vision problems.

• 5

  Test your peripheral vision with a visual field test. In this test, the doctor will measure your ability to see things to the side. A loss of side vision can be a symptom of glaucoma.

• 6

  Test your eyes for damage with a dilated eye exam. The ophthalmologist dilates your pupil with drops. When the pupil is dilated, the doctor will look inside your eye with a magnifying lens to check for damage to the optic nerve and retina. Diabetic retinopathy can damage your retina. Glaucoma can damage the optic nerve.

• 7

  Test your eye pressure. The doctor will use a tonometry tool to measure the pressure inside your eye. She will probably numb your eye with eye drops before taking the measurement. Above-normal eye pressure is a symptom of glaucoma.

• 8

  Test the thickness of your cornea. The ophthalmologist will use ultrasonic waves to see if your cornea is thicker than normal. A thickened cornea is a symptom of cataracts.