Diabetic Eye Exams in Mississauga

Managing Diabetes Means Protecting Your Ocular Health

Currently, nearly 3.3 million Canadians have diabetes. A chronic system disease, diabetes prevents your body from either using or producing insulin, which turns sugar in the blood into energy. When your body cannot process blood sugar, it remains in the bloodstream and can damage your entire system.

At Ideal Optical, we offer comprehensive diabetic eye exams that focus on detecting early signs of diabetic eye disease. If you have diabetes, please call us and book an appointment as soon as possible.

How Does Diabetes Affect the Eyes?

Diabetes can increase your risk of developing cataracts and glaucoma, and even temporary changes in blood sugar levels can lead to blurred vision. If sugar in the blood builds up over the long-term, it can cause blockages in the blood vessels of your retina, preventing blood flow and leading to several diabetic eye diseases.

Diabetic Retinopathy

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) occurs when the retina’s blood vessels are damaged, clogged, or blocked due to high blood sugar levels. Early stages of the disease may come with no vision changes or noticeable symptoms, but if left untreated, DR can lead to permanent vision loss and, eventually, blindness.

Diabetic Macular Edema

Diabetic macular edema (DME) is a complication of diabetic retinopathy. When DR leads to tiny bulges in the blood vessel walls, they can leak fluid or blood into the retina. This leaking can swell the macula, leading to DME and potential vision loss.

How Are Diabetic Eye Diseases Diagnosed?

Diabetic eye diseases are diagnosed during comprehensive diabetic eye exams. These exams can not only detect early signs of eye diseases, but they can also detect and diagnose diabetes, even before your family doctor can.

At Ideal Optical, we have invested in advanced diagnostic technology to find even the smallest signs of diabetic eye diseases. If you have been diagnosed with type 1 or 2 diabetes, it is crucial that you see us for regular diabetic eye exams.

Fundus Photography

Fundus photography is a camera that captures full-colour photographs of the interior of the eye. These photographs can help us inspect your macula, retina, retinal vascular system, and optic disc.

Optical Coherence Tomography

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is a non-invasive scan that captures cross-sectional images of the retina.

OCT can be used to evaluate many eye conditions and conditions, like macular holes, macular edema, glaucoma, and retinopathy.

Preventing Diabetic Eye Disease

Regular eye exams as well as controlling your blood sugar levels and blood pressure can protect you from the damaging effects of diabetic eye disease. However, you cannot always prevent diabetic retinopathy. Early diagnosis and treatment are essential if you have been diagnosed with DR or DME.

Book Your Appointment Today

Even if it has been a while since your last eye appointment, please call us to book a diabetic eye exam today.

Where to Find Us

We are in the Mississauga Marketplace in the South East corner of Hurontario and Eglinton Avenue. Parking is free, and wheelchair accessible spots are available. Visit us today!