Diabetic Eye Exams in Crest Hill and Joliet, IL

Diabetes is the leading cause of new blindness in adults between the ages of 20 and 74 in the United States. It's the direct consequence of what happens when blood sugar levels damage the small blood vessels inside the eye, often without any symptoms, over the course of years.

Diabetic eye disease has no symptoms in its early stages. Vision feels normal. There's no pain. Nothing about daily life changes. At a more advanced stage, the damage becomes significant and much harder to reverse.

An annual dilated eye exam is the most effective intervention available to diabetic patients. It catches damage early, when treatment options work best and vision preservation is most achievable.

How Diabetes Affects the Eyes

Elevated blood sugar weakens the walls of the tiny blood vessels that supply the retina. The retina is the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye responsible for reading, driving, and recognizing faces. These vessels can leak fluid or blood into the retina, swell, or grow new, abnormal blood vessels that are fragile and prone to rupturing.

The condition that results, diabetic retinopathy, progresses through stages. In the early stages, called non-proliferative retinopathy, small changes are visible in the retina but vision is typically unaffected. In more advanced stages, left untreated, they can lead to significant vision loss.

Diabetic macular edema is a related condition where fluid leaks into the central part of the retina, causing blurred or distorted central vision. Both conditions are treatable when caught early, and both are detectable through a dilated eye exam before any visual symptoms appear.

Who Should Be Screened and How Often

If you have Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes, an annual comprehensive eye exam with dilation is the medical standard. How well controlled your blood sugar is doesn't change this recommendation. Risk accumulates over years, and well-managed diabetes still warrants annual screening.

Patients already diagnosed with some degree of retinopathy may need more frequent monitoring, every six months or more, depending on the stage and rate of progression. Dr. Akbar will advise on the right schedule based on what she finds.

Patients with pre-diabetes or a family history of Type 2 diabetes should also know that the risk window begins before a formal diagnosis.

What the Exam Involves at Lumenis

A diabetic eye exam at Lumenis Eye Care & Wellness involves dilating the pupils with drops to allow a clear view of the entire retina. After dilation, Dr. Akbar performs a detailed examination of the retinal vasculature, the optic nerve, and the macula. We also use imaging technology that creates a detailed record of what the retina looks like at each visit, which allows us to track changes over time.

The exam is not painful and takes approximately 45 to 60 minutes. Your near vision may be temporarily blurred after dilation. Bring a driver, or plan to wait 30 to 60 minutes before driving.

We communicate our findings directly with your primary care physician or endocrinologist when appropriate, so your eye care is coordinated with the rest of your diabetes management.

Medicare Coverage for Diabetic Eye Exams

Medicare Part B covers one dilated eye exam per year for all Medicare beneficiaries with diabetes, regardless of whether they have any visual symptoms or a prior diagnosis of diabetic eye disease. This is a medical benefit, not a vision benefit, which means it's covered even for patients who don't have separate vision insurance.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can diabetic eye disease be reversed? 

Early-stage diabetic retinopathy can sometimes be halted or improved with better blood sugar control. More advanced stages are treated with procedures that prevent further progression, but the damage already done typically can't be fully reversed. This is why early detection matters.

My vision seems fine. Do I still need a dilated exam? 

Yes. Diabetic retinopathy is asymptomatic in its early and moderate stages. The damage accumulates without affecting what you see until it reaches a more advanced stage. The annual exam catches it before that.

What happens if diabetic retinopathy is detected at my exam? 

The response depends on the stage. Early findings are monitored with more frequent exams and coordinated with your diabetes care team. More advanced findings may require referral to a retinal specialist for laser treatment, injections, or surgery. Dr. Akbar will explain exactly what she found and what the next steps are.

Does Lumenis accept Medicare for diabetic eye exams? 

Yes. We accept Medicare for medically necessary eye care, including the annual diabetic eye exam benefit covered under Medicare Part B.

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Lumenis Eye Care & Wellness is located at 16151 Weber Road, Suite 103, Crest Hill, IL 60403. We provide diabetic eye exams for patients from Crest Hill, Joliet, Plainfield, Romeoville, and Will County. Learn more at www.lumeniseyecare.com#services.

If you have diabetes and haven't had a dilated eye exam this year, now is the right time to schedule. Call or text (815) 863-8585, or email lumie@lumeniseyecare.com.