When To Call a Doctor
Call your doctor immediately if you have
diabetes and notice:
- Floaters in
your field of vision. Floaters often appear as dark specks, globs, strings, or
dots. A sudden shower of floaters may be a sign of a
retinal detachment, which is a serious complication of
diabetic retinopathy.
- A new visual defect, shadow, or curtain across part of your
vision. This is another sign of retinal detachment.
- Eye pain or a
feeling of pressure in your eye.
- New or sudden vision loss. The
sudden onset of partial or complete vision loss is a symptom of many disorders
that can occur within or outside the eye, including retinal detachment or
bleeding within the eye. Sudden vision loss is always a medical
emergency.
Watchful Waiting
Watchful waiting is not an option if you have diabetes and notice
changes in your vision.
If you have diabetes, even if you do not have any symptoms of eye
disease, you still need to have your eyes and vision checked every year by an
eye specialist (ophthalmologist or optometrist). If you wait until you have
symptoms, it is more likely that complications and severe damage to the
retina will have already developed. These may be more
difficult to treat and may result in permanent vision loss.
Watchful waiting is not an option if you already have diabetic
retinopathy but do not have symptoms or vision loss. You will need to return to
your ophthalmologist for frequent evaluations (every few months in some cases)
so that your doctor can closely monitor changes in your eyes. There is no cure
for the disease, but treatment can slow its progression. Your ophthalmologist
can tell you how often you need to be evaluated.
Who To See
People with diabetes need to see a doctor who specializes in eye
care for their eye evaluations.
If you have
diabetic retinopathy and need laser treatment or
surgery, you need to consult an ophthalmologist who specializes in treating the
retina and has special training in the care of eye
disease caused by diabetes.
To prepare for your appointment, see the topic Making the Most of Your Appointment