Diabetes is the leading cause of new cases of blindness in adults. This is the case for both Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes. This is a growing problem because as the number of people living with diabetes increases, so does the number of people with impaired vision. Diabetes can lead to diabetic retinopathy. In its early stages, you may not notice any signs, symptoms, or changes in vision. In advanced stages, it could lead to rapid changes in prescription, retinal detachments, glaucoma, or even blindness. Early detection is key, so make sure you schedule your exam today!
Fort Worth Eye Center is committed to using the latest technology to provide you with the most advanced eye care and the most comfortable experience. Recently, Dr. Lam introduced the new iCare EIDON widefield TrueColor confocal fundus imaging system to his eye exams. This piece of technology provides unsurpassed image quality and a live view of the retina, all without the need for dilation!
Diabetic retinopathy involves swelling, leaking, or abnormal growth of blood vessels in or near the retina. There are multiple stages to this disease, the earliest of which may not present any symptoms you can see. Symptoms you can see include dark or black spots in your vision that increase over time, or severely blurred vision due to bleeding within the eye. That’s why comprehensive eye exams are so important when thinking about diabetes and eyesight—both type 1 and type 2 diabetics are at risk for developing diabetic retinopathy, and the longer you have diabetes, the more likely you are to develop some form of disease.
During your eye exam, we assess all parts of the visual pathway. You’ll receive a new prescription for glasses and/or contact lenses, an overall health assessment of the eye, binocular vision to verify both eyes are working together equally, and a minor neurological assessment.
It is recommended you receive a complete eye exam at least once every two or three years. However, your doctor may recommend more frequent exams depending on your age, medical history, or whether you currently wear glasses and/or contact lenses.
We offer many types of eye exams here at Fort Worth Eye Center including eye exams for kids, sports vision exams, contact lens eye exams, and more.
The duration of your eye exam will depend on your individual circumstances and needs; however, most patients can expect a full appointment to last between 30 minutes and an hour. If you are interested in purchasing new glasses or contact lenses, additional time may be needed.