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Diabetes: Eye exams

Diabetes can cause problems with your eyes. This condition is called retinopathy. Retinopathy can lead to decreased vision and blindness. By receiving a dilated retinal eye exam by an ophthalmologist or optometrist, changes in your eyes can be monitored. Treatments exist that can prevent or delay diabetic retinopathy.

Patients with diabetes that have high blood sugars and/or high blood pressure are more at risk for developing eye problems.

You can work with your doctor to understand your diabetes and stay healthy. This will help you feel better and lower your chances of having heart disease, a stroke or other problems.

If you have diabetes, make sure you get regular check-ups that include the following tests:

• Blood pressure check
• Blood test for A1c. This test shows the average blood sugar level for 2 to 3 months.
• Blood test for cholesterol level. This test shows the level of cholesterol, a fat, waxy-like substance, in your blood.
• Eye exam
• Blood and urine tests to check how the kidneys are working

There are two types of diabetes. Type 1 diabetes is when the body does not produce enough insulin. Type 1 diabetes usually is first diagnosed during childhood. Type 2 diabetes is when the body does not respond as it should to insulin. Both adults and children can get type 2 diabetes.

Who is at risk for diabetes?
Almost everyone knows someone who has diabetes. Risk factors for type 2 diabetes include:

• Older age
• Being overweight or obese
• Family history of diabetes
• Having diabetes during a pregnancy. This is called gestational diabetes.
• Higher than normal levels of blood sugar. This is called impaired glucose tolerance or pre-diabetes.
• Not exercising enough

Risk factors for type 1 diabetes are less clear than they are for type 2 diabetes. Family history, genetics, and problems with the body’s system for fighting infection give a higher risk for type 1 diabetes.

This measure shows the percent of patients with diabetes in each practice who had a documented dilated retinal eye exam. A higher number is better.

Note: Some patients have eye exam benefits that are separate from their health insurance and may not be included in this report. This may result in a lower score.

If your doctor's office is not listed it means there was not enough information available to report this measure.

Why it is important:
Uncontrolled blood sugar levels can cause serious eye problems, such as trouble seeing and blindness. Yearly retinal exams and good blood sugar control can prevent or decrease the chance of vision loss. To have excellent control of your diabetes, you must pay close attention to your diet, control your portion sizes, and get regular exercise.

What you and your doctor should do:
Good health requires a partnership. Your doctor cannot do it alone. Your doctor should refer you to an ophthalmologist or optometrist to have a dilated retinal exam to check for changes in your eyes. It is your responsibility to get the test done by an eye doctor. You should ask your doctor to send a copy of the results to your primary care doctor so you can discuss the results together.

How does diabetes affect our community?

• The Center for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 8.6% of adults have diabetes in the Kansas City region.
• In 2003, Kansas City (MO) hospital admissions with diabetes as the principal diagnosis resulted in 5,440 days of care provided with hospital charges over $17 million.

Find information and tools to help you manage your diabetes