Diabetes

Diabetic retinopathy doesn’t cause any pain, but it can significantly impact vision if it’s left undetected and untreated. That’s why it’s important that people diagnosed with diabetes have an eye exam at least once a year or whenever their optometrist recommends it.

A diabetic patient can reduce the risk of the condition affecting their eyes by following a diet and treatment program recommended by their physician. You should talk to your physician before you make any changes to your diet or supplement intake.

Evidence suggests that there are a number of risk factors that increase the risk of developing diabetic retinopathy. These include the duration of the condition, race, family history, and medical conditions (such as high blood pressure or high cholesterol)¹.

A diagnosis of diabetes doesn’t necessarily mean that you’ll be affected with eye health or vision complications immediately. However, the longer a patient has diabetes, the more likely they are to develop diabetic retinopathy, especially if the diabetes is poorly controlled, so it’s important to have a regular eye exam with an optometrist.