What can I expect during an Diabetic Eye Exam?

[Belk]

I have diabetes and am going to take an eye exam. What can I expect during an Diabetic Eye Exam? Is there any difference from the regular eye exam?

[Belknap]

During an diabetic eye exam, the doctor will give you a visual acuity test to detect your vision problems. Ophthalmoscopy and slit lamp exam are used to detect whether you get cataract, changes in the retina, and other problems. The doctor will use gonioscopy to find out the eye diseases, like glaucoma, which can cause blindness. Tonometry is used to measure the eye pressure so that they can know whether you have got glaucoma.

[Bell]

Yes, it is different from regular eye exam, Eye exams for people with diabetes can include: Visual acuity testing. Visual acuity testing measures the eye's ability to focus and to see details at near and far distances. It can help detect vision loss and other problems. Ophthalmoscopy and slit lamp exam. These tests allow your doctor to see the back of the eye and other structures within the eye. They may be used to detect clouding of the lens (cataract), changes in the retina, and other problems. Gonioscopy. Gonioscopy is used to find out whether the area where fluid drains out of your eye (called the drainage angle) is open or closed. This test is done if your doctor thinks you may have glaucoma, a group of eye diseases that can cause blindness by damaging the optic nerve. Tonometry. This test measures the pressure inside the eye, which is called intraocular pressure (IOP). It is used to help detect glaucoma. Diabetes can increase your risk of glaucoma.