Eye examination for diabetics: Your most important appointment to protect your eyesight

Eye examinations in diabetes are the crucial and indispensable preventive measure to detect one of the most serious complications of diabetes – diabetic retinopathy – early and to prevent impending blindness.¹ As a diabetic, you are at high risk of specific damage to the delicate blood vessels in your retina. At our ophthalmology practice in Frankfurt Westend, Dr. Mareen Schmidt, an experienced retinal specialist, focuses on diagnosing these changes with the utmost precision and ensuring the best possible prognosis for your vision through timely treatment.

Why is an eye examination so crucial for people with diabetes?

Chronically elevated blood sugar levels damage the small blood vessels throughout the body over many years, including those in the retina of the eye. This process, known as microangiopathy, progresses slowly and is completely painless. The vessel walls become fragile and permeable, leading to small hemorrhages, fatty deposits, and swelling. The insidious thing about it is that you don't notice these changes for a long time. Only when the central part of the retina (the macula) swells or larger hemorrhages occur do symptoms such as blurred or distorted vision appear. By this time, the disease is often already quite advanced. The annual Eye examination for diabetics Therefore, this is the only way to uncover this "silent" danger in time.

Eye examination in diabetes: Our procedure in Frankfurt

A comprehensive Eye examination for diabetics In our practice, we offer a structured, painless process designed to obtain a complete picture of the condition of your retina.

• Medical history: We begin with a detailed discussion about the duration and type of your diabetes, your current blood sugar and blood pressure levels, and any vision problems you may have.
• Visual acuity test: We determine your current visual acuity precisely in order to document even subtle changes over time.
• Examination of the anterior segments of the eye: The slit lamp is used to examine the front parts of the eye.
• Intraocular Pressure Measurement: Diabetics have an increased risk of glaucoma, which is why this measurement is an integral part of the examination.
• Examination of the fundus: This is the crucial part. After dilating the pupil with medication (or without pupil dilation using our modern wide-angle technology), Dr. Mareen Schmidt can assess the entire retina, blood vessels, optic nerve, and macula in detail.
• Optical coherence tomography (OCT): If swelling of the macula (diabetic macular edema) is suspected, we use this high-resolution scanning procedure to create a micrometer-precise layer image in order to visualize any fluid accumulation.
• Wide-angle fundus photography, fundus autofluorescence, dye studies: fluorescein angiography and ICG angiography, OCT angiography as needed

Eye examination in diabetes: The stages of diabetic retinopathy

The Eye examination for diabetics It also serves to determine the exact stage of the retinal disease. Further treatment decisions depend on this.

What happens after an eye examination in a diabetic patient if a diagnosis is found?

Should we be involved in your Eye examination for diabetics Detecting changes that require treatment is no reason to panic, but rather an opportunity to prevent serious visual impairment. Modern ophthalmology offers excellent treatment options:

• Laser therapy (photocoagulation): In proliferative retinopathy, oxygen-deprived areas in the outer retina are selectively destroyed with a laser. This stops the growth of dangerous new blood vessels.²
• IVOM therapy (eye injection): For diabetic macular edema, the injection of medication into the eye is the gold standard.³ These so-called VEGF inhibitors seal the blood vessels and reduce swelling, often significantly improving eyesight.

Our quality promise: The 5-S method

Even at the Eye examination for diabetics We apply the principles of our 5-S method. Careful This means that we take the time for a complete analysis of your retina. Safe This means that we provide a safe and guideline-compliant therapy recommendation based on a precise diagnosis. Gentle This means that the examination will be as comfortable as possible for you.

Frequently asked questions about eye examinations for diabetics

Here you will find answers to frequently asked questions that we, as patients, receive during the course of treatment. Eye examination for diabetics in our Frankfurt practice.

How often do I need to have my eyes checked if I have diabetes?

Every diabetic – type 1 and type 2 – needs an annual check-up. Eye examination for diabetics The absolute minimum, even if you have no vision problems. As soon as the first changes to the retina are detected, shorter check-up intervals are often necessary, for example every three to six months. It is essential that you keep these appointments.

My vision is perfect. Is the examination still necessary?

Yes, absolutely. Diabetic retinopathy causes no symptoms in its early stages. By the time you notice a decline in vision, the disease is often already quite advanced. The annual Eye examination for diabetics It is purely a precautionary measure to detect damage before it becomes noticeable to you.

Will my health insurance cover the costs of the examination?

The costs are usually fully covered by private health insurance companies.

Does my pupil always need to be dilated for the examination?

For a complete and comprehensive assessment of the entire retina, pharmacological pupil dilation is often the gold standard in the field of retinoscopy. Eye examination for diabetics. In our practice, we also offer modern wide-angle photography, which in many cases allows for an excellent assessment without the need for wide-angle drops. Dr. Mareen Schmidt will determine individually whether this is sufficient in your case.

What can I do myself to protect my eyes?

The most important contribution you can make is to optimally manage your underlying condition. Stable and well-controlled blood sugar and blood pressure levels are the best insurance against the progression of diabetic retinopathy.⁵ The regular Eye examination for diabetics This is then the second, equally important building block of your personal retirement strategy.

Is an eye exam painful for people with diabetes?

No, the entire process of Eye examination for diabetics The procedure is painless. The microscopic examination, pressure measurement, and OCT scan are all non-contact. Only the eye drops used to dilate the pupils may cause a slight burning sensation and light sensitivity for a short time.

What is the difference in the eyes between type 1 and type 2 diabetes?

Both types of diabetes can cause the same eye damage. In both type 1 and type 2 diabetes, the first examination should take place immediately after diagnosis, as the diabetes has often gone undetected for some time and changes to the eye may already be present.

Can diabetic retinopathy reverse itself?

Early stages of non-proliferative retinopathy can indeed regress with excellent and stable blood sugar control. However, advanced damage or scarring is usually irreversible. The goal of every Eye examination for diabetics The goal of the subsequent therapy is to prevent further progression.

Do I need to see a diabetologist or an ophthalmologist for the examination?

For the Eye examination for diabetics Your ophthalmologist is solely responsible for your diabetes. The treatment of the diabetes itself is handled by your general practitioner or diabetologist. Good cooperation and regular exchange of information between these two specialists are crucial for your health. We always send your treating physician a detailed report.

Why is a retinal specialist important for the examination?

As a long-time senior physician at the Clinic for Retinal Diseases in Frankfurt and as a retinal specialist, Dr. Mareen Schmidt has particular expertise in interpreting subtle changes in the retina and in performing modern therapies such as laser and intravitreal injections. Eye examination for diabetics This expertise is crucial to determine the right time for any necessary treatment and to carry it out at the highest level.

Your eyesight in diabetes: Take preventative care seriously

Diabetic retinopathy is a serious disease, but it is manageable with timely detection and consistent treatment.⁶ Don't wait for symptoms. Keep your annual check-up appointments. If you are diabetic, please schedule an appointment for your comprehensive check-up. Eye examination for diabetics in our Frankfurt practice.