If you have diabetes, your eyes need regular monitoring — even if your vision seems fine. High blood sugar can quietly damage the blood vessels inside your eyes, and by the time you notice symptoms, the damage may already be significant. A diabetic eye exam catches problems early, when they’re most treatable.
Schedule a Diabetic Eye Exam
Because diabetes is a medical condition, your diabetic eye exam is covered by medical insurance (like Aetna, Blue Cross, Medicare, or United) — not vision insurance. Many patients don’t realize this and put off their exam thinking it won’t be covered. It almost always is.
The retina is the thin layer of tissue at the back of your eye that converts light into the signals your brain reads as vision. It’s supplied by a network of tiny, delicate blood vessels.
When blood sugar stays elevated over time, those blood vessels get damaged. They can leak fluid, swell, or close off entirely. New, fragile blood vessels may grow in their place — and those are even more prone to bleeding. This is diabetic retinopathy, and it’s the leading cause of vision loss in working-age adults.
The tricky part: diabetic retinopathy often has no symptoms in its early stages. Your vision can feel perfectly normal while damage is happening inside the eye. That’s why regular exams matter — we can see what you can’t feel.
Anyone with Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes can develop diabetic retinopathy, but some factors raise the risk further:
If any of these apply to you, consistent monitoring is especially important.
A diabetic eye exam is painless and straightforward. Here’s how it works:
We place drops in your eyes to widen your pupils. This gives your doctor a clear view of the retina. Your vision will be blurry for a couple of hours afterward — bring sunglasses.
Your doctor carefully examines the retina and its blood vessels through your dilated pupils. Depending on what they find, they may recommend additional imaging — like retinal photos or an OCT scan — to get a closer look.
Your doctor reviews the images with you, explains what they see, and recommends next steps — whether that’s monitoring, tighter blood sugar control, or treatment if needed.
Finding early signs of diabetic retinopathy is not a crisis — it’s an opportunity. Caught early, there are effective treatments:
If you need advanced treatment like injections, we work closely with retina specialists and coordinate your care so nothing falls through the cracks.
At minimum, once a year. Your doctor may recommend more frequent exams if there are signs of retinopathy or if your diabetes is not well controlled. Don’t wait for symptoms — the whole point is catching things before you notice them.
Yes. A diabetic eye exam focuses specifically on the health of your retina and the blood vessels that supply it. Your doctor will dilate your pupils for a thorough view, and may recommend additional testing — like retinal photos or an OCT scan — depending on what they see. A routine vision exam checks your prescription and general eye health but doesn’t go as deep into the retinal vasculature.
Your vision will be blurry and light-sensitive for about 2–6 hours after dilation. Bring sunglasses. Many people do drive themselves home, but your near vision and depth perception will be affected — so it’s a good idea to arrange a ride if you can, especially if your appointment is late in the day.
Yes — diabetic eye exams are billed to your medical insurance, not your vision plan. Because diabetes is a medical condition, the exam is considered medically necessary. This includes Medicare, most commercial plans, and Medicaid. Our team can verify your coverage before your appointment.
Yes. Diabetic retinopathy is often completely symptom-free in its early stages. By the time you notice vision changes, significant damage may have already occurred. Annual exams let us catch and treat problems while they’re still small.
Our optometrists are experienced in diabetic retinal screening and monitor your eye health as part of your overall diabetes care. If we ever find something that needs specialized treatment, we coordinate directly with retina specialists on your behalf.
New patients always welcome. Most insurance plans accepted.
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