Diabetic Eye Exams in Markham

Open-angle glaucoma is one of the most common forms of glaucoma that patients develop, and people with diabetes are almost twice as likely to develop the disease.

Open-angle glaucoma occurs when the intraocular pressure (IOP) of your eye rises due to blockages in your eyes drainage canal. This leads to damage to the optic nerve and permanent vision loss.

With diabetes, the chances of developing cataracts is doubled. Cataracts are a relatively common eye condition that sees the eye developing a cloudy or milky film in your lens. Generally, this is caused by ageing as your lens becomes less flexible, less transparent, and thicker, but diabetes can speed up this process.

One disease that is directly correlated to diabetes is diabetic retinopathy. Tiny blood vessels behind your eye become blocked due to the higher levels of sugar in your bloodstream, and the blockages can trigger a development small and delicate vessels. These smaller vessels can break easily and can leak blood and other fluids into your retina.

If a leak forms, you may start to experience vision loss. This can look like dark spots or strings floating in your vision, or your eyesight may become blurry. This is considered an emergency, and you should either contact us immediately or visit your nearest emergency room.

Diabetic macular edema (DME) is a side-effect of diabetic retinopathy. When the blood vessels that are made as a result of a diabetes diagnosis start to break and leak fluid, the accumulation of fluid in the macula is called DME.