Ophthalmologist? Optometrist? Retina Specialist? What’s the Difference?
Ophthalmologists are physicians who specialize in medical and surgical eye care. They diagnose and treat all eye diseases. Many ophthalmologists conduct scientific research to improve treatment options and to find cures for eye diseases and vision disorders.
As primary health care providers, optometrists are Doctors of Optometry that have extensive, ongoing training to examine, diagnose, treat and manage ocular disorders, diseases and injuries and ocular manifestations of systemic diseases.
A retina specialist is a physician who specializes in ophthalmology and sub-specializes in diseases and surgery of the vitreous body of the eye and the retina.
How do I pick?
A good way to start is by reaching out to your primary care provider for suggestions and getting recommendations from family or friends. Your insurance carrier will be able to let you know what eye care providers and services are covered.
Why do I need one?
Unfortunately, people living with diabetes are at a higher risk for vision complications.
- Approximately 30% of people with diabetes worldwide have signs of retinopathy, and 1/3 of them have vision threatening retinopathy
- The CDC estimates that 8.6% of people with diabetes in the US have retinopathy—and half of those have experienced vision loss as a result
- People with diabetes are 2 times more likely to develop cataracts—and at a younger age
- Between 4.3 and 7% of people with diabetes may have macular edema
- It is estimated that 20% of reported dry eyes are from people with type 2 diabetes between the ages of 43 and 83 years
But there is good news: an annual routine eye exam could prevent 95% of vision loss caused by diabetes! Be sure to schedule an annual comprehensive eye exam with your eye doctor at least once a year so they can detect any problems early and treat them.
Learn more about taking control of your eye health.
It's easy to take your eyesight for granted.
But if you imagine losing your
sight, it's devastating.
Diabetes is the leading cause of vision loss in people 18-64 years old. And there are often no obvious signs or symptoms.
But the great news is an annual routine eye exam could prevent 95% of vision loss caused by diabetes.
Eye Doctor Saves Patient with Diabetes from Possibly Going Blind
– Dr. Nishan Pressley, OD, a VSP network doctor.
Step 01
Know Your Risk for Diabetes
Many people have prediabetes or diabetes for years without knowing it because early symptoms can be so easy to miss. That’s why an annual comprehensive eye exam is critical for prevention and early detection of diabetes-related eye complications. Diabetes affects the tiny blood vessels in the back of your eye, which your eye doctor can examine during an eye exam—often times long before you ever even experience other symptoms.
Wondering if you’re at risk for type 2 diabetes? We’re here to help. Take our free, 60-second online risk test—and if you are at risk for diabetes, talk to your health care team about getting tested.
Step 02
Know the Warning Signs of Diabetic Eye Disease
Some diabetic eye diseases have no signs or symptoms until they are too obvious to ignore, which might present as:
- Blurred vision
- Dark spots or "holes"
- Flashes of light
- Seeing an increased amount of floaters
- Poor night vision
This is why regular comprehensive eye exams are so important—to help avoid vision loss and potentially catch these conditions early.
Step 03
Take Control of Your Eye Health
Routine eye exams can help identify problems that when treated can prevent or delay vision loss due to diabetic eye complications in many people with diabetes. Unfortunately, many people with diabetes don't get their eyes examined regularly and are diagnosed too late.
Schedule an annual comprehensive eye exam with your eye doctor at least once a year so they can detect any problems early and treat them.
And be sure to follow the other steps for healthy eyes, as well.
Diabetic Eye Diseases
Some diabetic eye diseases have no obvious symptoms–but the damage done by high blood glucose levels can be caught early during a routine eye exam.
Diabetic Retinopathy
High blood sugar levels can cause damage to blood vessels in a part of your eye called the retina. There are various stages of diabetic eye disease. Diabetic Retinopathy is the most common and serious type of eye problem associated with diabetes.
Symptoms
Often none. Also common: blurred vision, distorted vision, impaired colors, seeing spots, or vision loss
Treatment
Good diabetes management including controlled blood glucose levels. Other treatment may include medication via injections or eyedrops, laser treatment, or surgery.
How to catch early
Annual dilated eye exam
Diabetic Macular Edema
Diabetic Macular Edema is when the tiny blood vessels in the retina leak fluid which builds up and causing swelling. This distorts vision and may lead to permanent vision loss.
Symptoms
Blurry, distorted, or wavy central vision. Color perception may also appear washed out.
Treatment
Good diabetes management including controlled blood glucose levels. Other treatment may include medication via injections or eyedrops, laser treatment, or surgery.
How to catch early
Annual dilated eye exam
Glaucoma
Glaucoma is an eye disease that causes damage to your optic nerve resulting in irreversible vision loss and is more common in people with diabetes.
Symptoms
Often none. Sometimes headaches, eye pain, blurred vision, watery/red eyes, halos, vision loss
Treatment
Good diabetes management including controlled blood glucose levels. Other treatment may include medication via injections or eyedrops, laser treatment, or surgery.
How to catch early
Annual dilated eye exam
Cataracts
Usually associated with age, cataracts are more common and occur earlier in people diagnosed with diabetes. With cataracts, the lens in your eye becomes cloudy due to the breakdown of proteins in the lens.
Symptoms
Blurred vision, hazy vision, halos around lights particularly at night
Treatment
Cataract surgery to replace the lens near the surface of the eye.
How to catch early
Annual dilated eye exam
Know Your Risk for Diabetes
Before people develop type 2 diabetes, they almost always have prediabetes—blood sugar levels that are higher than normal but not yet high enough to be diagnosed as diabetes. There are often no clear symptoms of prediabetes so you may have it and not know it. In fact, many people have prediabetes or diabetes for years without knowing it because early symptoms can be so easy to miss. That’s why an annual comprehensive eye exam is critical for the early detection and prevention of diabetes-related eye complications. Diabetes affects the tiny blood vessels in the back of your eye, which your eye doctor can examine during an eye exam—often times these exams detect problems before you ever even experience other symptoms.
Wondering if you’re at risk for type 2 diabetes? We’re here to help. Take our free, 60-second online risk test—and if you are at risk for diabetes, talk to your health care team about getting tested.
Take Control of Your Eye Health
Routine eye exams can identify problems that when treated can prevent or delay vision loss in many people with diabetes. Unfortunately many people with diabetes don’t get their eyes examined regularly and are diagnosed too late. Be sure to schedule a comprehensive eye exam every year.
Schedule appointments with your eye doctor at least once a year so they can detect any problems early and treat them.
And be sure to follow the other steps for healthy eyes, as well.
Take Control of Your Eye Health
Most importantly, early detection by a professional could save your vision. There are other steps that can help, too.
Avoid vision loss and potentially catch conditions early.
Routine exams should be done at least once a year.
Get Routine Eye Exams
It’s important to get a comprehensive eye exam with dilation every year to allow for a more thorough examination of your eye and to catch conditions early, before permanent damage is done.
Some diabetic eye diseases have no signs or symptoms until they are too obvious to ignore, which might present as:
- Blurred vision
- Dark spots or "holes"
- Flashes of light
- Seeing an increased amount of floaters
- Poor night vision
This is why routine exams are so important—to help avoid vision loss and potentially catch these conditions early.
Eye health benefits are determined by your health care plan. Consider your network to learn your options when making an appointment.
Schedule appointments with your eye doctor at least once a year so they can detect any problems early and treat them.
Find an eye care professional
- VSP Vision Care
- American Academy of Ophthalmology
- American Optometric Association
- American Society of Retina Specialists
American Diabetes Association does not endorse any product or service.
Monitor Your Blood Sugar
When your blood sugar is too high, it can affect the shape of your eye’s lens, causing blurry vision, which goes back to normal after your blood sugar stabilizes. High blood sugar can also damage the blood vessels in your eyes. Maintaining good control of your blood sugar helps prevent these problems.
Monitor Your Blood Pressure and Cholesterol
High blood pressure and high cholesterol can put you at greater risk for eye disease and vision loss. Keeping both under control will not only help your eyes but your overall health.
Make Healthy Lifestyle Choices
Smoking increases your risk of diabetic retinopathy and other eye conditions, but you can reduce that risk by quitting smoking. Regular exercise also has phenomenal health benefits—it can control diabetes and improve eye health.
Know Your Risk for Diabetes
Before people develop type 2 diabetes, they almost always have prediabetes—blood sugar levels that are higher than normal but not yet high enough to be diagnosed as diabetes. There are no clear symptoms of prediabetes so you may have it and not know it. In fact, many people have prediabetes or diabetes for years without knowing it because early symptoms can be so easy to miss. That’s why an annual comprehensive eye exam is critical for prevention and early detection of diabetes-related eye complications. Diabetes affects the tiny blood vessels in the back of your eye, which your eye doctor can examine during an eye exam—often times long before you ever even experience other symptoms
If you haven’t been told you have diabetes and are wondering if you’re at risk for type 2 diabetes, we’re here to help. Take our free, 60-second online risk test—and if you are at risk for diabetes, talk to your health care team about getting tested.
Know the Warning Signs of Diabetic Eye Disease
Some diabetic eye diseases have no signs until they are too obvious to ignore, which might present as:
- Blurred vision
- Dark spots or "holes"
- Flashes of light
- Seeing an increased amount of floaters
- Poor night vision
This is why routine exams are so important–to help avoid vision loss and potentially catch these conditions early.
It’s Easy to Take Eyesight for Granted
But when your patients with diabetes or prediabetes lose their sight, it’s devastating.
Diabetes is the leading cause of vision loss in people 18-64 years old. And there are often no obvious signs or symptoms.
Learn how to look closer at your patients' eye health and take control with these resources:
- Diabetic Retinopathy section in the Standards of Medical Care in Diabetes – 2020
- Prevention and Management of Diabetes-Related Eye Disease
Coming soon: Get continuing medical education credit!
Eye Doctor Saves Patient with Diabetes from Possibly Going Blind
– Dr. Nishan Pressley, OD, a VSP network doctor.
Know Your Patients' Risk for Diabetes
If a patient has a diagnosis of type 1 or type 2 diabetes or prediabetes, communicate the risk of eye conditions
For patients without a diagnosis, consider the American Diabetes Association’s 60-second online Risk Test to measure type 2 diabetes risk.
Know the Warning Signs of Diabetic Eye Disease
Some diabetic eye diseases have no signs or symptoms until they are too obvious to ignore, which might present as:
- Blurred vision
- Dark spots or "holes"
- Flashes of light
- Seeing an increased amount of floaters
- Poor night vision
This is why routine eye exams are so important for your patients with diabetes and prediabetes to help avoid vision loss and potentially catch these conditions early.
Help Your Patients Take Control of Their Eye Health
Please communicate to your patients the importance of annual dilated eye exams.
If you’re a Primary Care Provider, help patients manage their risk for diabetes-related eye disease by providing referrals to get routine eye exams.
Managing diabetes is crucial, as is quitting smoking.
The Latest
Stay up to date on news and tips you need to maintain your eye health, prevent vision loss and understand your risk for eye disease from experts you can trust—and others just like you.
Ophthalmologist? Optometrist? Retina Specialist? What’s the Difference?
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