Specialty Eye Exams

1. Eye damage can occur before pain, visual blurring, or other symptoms.

With diabetic retinopathy, there are often no symptoms until it has reached an advanced stage and causes rapid permanent vision loss. Your annual diabetic exam can spot it early when it is usually still treatable. Ideally, treatment occurs before any loss of vision. During the exam, you will also be checked for cataracts, glaucoma, and other eye conditions that you could be at risk for secondary to diabetes.

2. The earlier eye disease is found, the better.

Diabetic damage to the eye needs to be addressed as soon as possible for the best outcome. In between annual exams, please report any of the below symptoms to Mt. Hood Eye Care:

• eye pain
• double vision
• glare
• blurring of vision or loss of vision
• difficulty reading
• flashing lights
• sudden appearance of spots or floaters
• objects that look larger or smaller than normal
• a dark or empty spot in the center of your vision
• difficulty seeing well at night
• halos around lights
• droopy eyelid
• floaters
• a dark curtain moving from peripheral vision toward central vision

These symptoms can mean something as simple as a prescription change for your glasses or contacts, or may signal a diabetic change.

3. Excellent treatments are available if diabetic eye disease is caught early and managed properly.

When diabetic eye disease is found early and managed diligently, it can be stopped or slowed. Dr. Turin has been trained in the co-management of diabetic and hypertensive eyecare. He will work with your primary care doctor and eye surgeon if needed. A thorough report of your exam will be provided to your primary care doctor to assist in your care.

4. The eyes are the only place in the body where a doctor can look at your blood vessels.

If diabetic changes are found in the eye, it is likely that changes are happening throughout the rest of your body. Your annual diabetic eye exam can be an early warning sign of other physical changes that need to be addressed. Dr. Turin loves working with other health care providers to provide full-scope care for diabetic patients. Your primary care doctor will be provided a comprehensive report of your eye findings. If ocular changes are noted, your primary doctor will be informed so they can adjust or manage your diabetic treatment. Hopefully, your ocular health will be normal and your primary care doctor may worry a little less about your kidneys and other organs that are at risk for diabetic changes.