Getting Better Glasses

The ability to see is something that is special and should never be taken for granted. There are many different things that can cause eye problems. One such cause of eye problems is diabetes. There is a condition called diabetic retinopathy that has a drastic effect on the blood vessels in the light-sensitive tissue of the eye, called the retina. This is the most common cause of vision loss among those that suffer from diabetes. Diabetic macular edema or, DME, is a consequence of diabetic retinopathy and is the swelling in the macula. The macula is a portion of the retina. These are major problems in the eye, and if you are a diabetic, you need to visit with your eye doctor often. Here are a few things that you can expect from a meeting with your eye doctor:

Snellen Chart

One of the very first thing that your doctor is going to do is get a sense of where your vision is at. One of the most popular ways to do this is to have you look at a Snellen Chart. This is the famous chart that has big numbers or letters at the top that progressively get smaller as you go down the chart. You will be asked to read the chart with both eyes open, and with each eye. Do not be surprised if you are asked to read the chart at different distances. This is to allow the optometrist to understand where your vision is. 

Photography

The doctor also needs to get a sense of the overall health of your eyes. Often an optometrist will be able to notice a problem with the eye simply by looking at the eye directly, but the doctor will likely get photographs of the eye up close. This will allow the doctor to get a better sense of what is happening on a fine scale in the eye. These photographs are harmless and do not cause any pain at all. 

Procedures

If the doctor does, in fact, see a problem in your eyes, he or she will discuss different procedures with you. Often an injection therapy is used where drugs are injected into the eye to block a specific protein called endothelial growth factor. This protein can cause abnormal blood vessels to grow. There are a few different methods of treatment for these conditions and you and your doctor will discuss the best route to take for your eyes. 

Contact a company like Northwest Ophthalmology for more information and assistance.