Do I Need to See an Optometrist, Ophthalmologist or Optician if I Live with Diabetes?

As a person with diabetes (PWD), it’s important to have a specialized eye care team, starting with an optometrist. Yes, not just one doctor, but potentially several, because they support you in different ways while you’re managing your diabetes.

In this guide, we explain the different types of eye health specialists and what they do.

Why do I need an eye doctor if I have diabetes?

Unfortunately, PWD are at a higher risk of vision problems. During a checkup, an eye doctor can detect eye problems early, even before you notice any symptoms, thanks to modern technology. The earlier these problems are found, the easier it is to treat them and prevent them from getting worse. 

The most common diabetes-related eye conditions are:

• Retinopathy: Swelling, leakage and bleeding in the blood vessels of your eye’s retina that can cause blindness if left undetected or untreated.
• Macular edema: Swelling and fluid build-up in the macula of your eye, which often pairs with retinopathy and can cause severe vision loss if left untreated.
• Cataracts: Cloudiness in the lens of your eye that can cause vision loss.
• Glaucoma: Increased fluid pressure in your eyes that can cause vision loss and blindness if not treated.
• Dry eye: Blurred vision, excessive watering because of chronic dryness, stinging and burning in your eyes resulting from elevated blood sugar levels, aging and many common prescription and non-prescription medications.

Diabetes and eye health

The facts on diabetes and eye health are clear:

• In 2021, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reported that 9.6 million people across all ages were living with diabetic retinopathy.
• Of these 9.6 million, 1.84 million had vision-threatening diabetic retinopathy.
• Non-Hispanic Black people had the highest prevalence of diabetic retinopathy, at 3.26%and 1.11% of cases were vision-threatening.
• The prevalence of vision-threatening and non-vision-threatening diabetic retinopathy was higher in males.
• The prevalence of vision-threatening and non-vision-threatening diabetic retinopathy was highest among those aged 40 to 64 years old.

What’s an optometrist?

An optometrist is a doctor who specializes in eye care. They examine, diagnose and treat eye problems, helping you see clearly and stay healthy. Think of them as your primary eye care provider. They can also help with simple issues, like getting new glasses or updating your current prescription. 

It’s a good idea for PWD to visit an optometrist once a year for an eye exam. This helps find early signs of problems, especially those related to diabetes, so they don’t get worse. Most employer-sponsored insurance plans cover a yearly visit. If you’re unsure if yours does, ask your human resources (HR) rep or contact your insurance customer care line directly for the most straightforward answers.

• Why should I see an optometrist? Optometrists can often treat common eye diseases like infections, injuries and glaucoma using medication. However, they will refer you to a specialist called an ophthalmologist if your condition is more serious, such as diabetic retinopathy that needs treatments like laser therapy, injections or surgery.

• What can an optometrist help me with? Optometrists often work with retinal specialists who handle severe cases like diabetic retinopathy and macular edema. Some optometrists focus on diagnosing and treating eye diseases such as dry eye, glaucoma and contact lens issues.

• Do optometrists understand my diabetes? Yes! There are even optometrists who specialize in diabetic eye care and education. Many also participate in research to learn more about both common and rare eye conditions.

What’s an ophthalmologist?

Ophthalmologists are doctors who specialize in medical and surgical eye care. Your optometrist might refer you to an ophthalmologist if you need more invasive treatment for diagnosed eye complications, or even for a second opinion when a diagnosis is fuzzy. 

Ophthalmologists are typically trained to perform invasive procedures, such as laser therapy, surgery or injections into the eye. There are subspecialties within ophthalmology, such as retina specialists who focus on treating and surgically managing diseases of the retina. 

Many ophthalmologists also conduct scientific research to improve treatment options and to find cures for eye diseases and vision disorders.

What’s an optician?

An optician makes and adjusts glasses, eyeglass lenses and contact lenses based on your prescription. Your annual eye exam with an optometrist might detect changes in your vision, which may require a prescription adjustment to maximize your vision on the eye chart and in the real world.

Which type of eye doctor should I see if I have diabetes?

It’s easiest to start with an optometrist, who can refer you to a specialist or optician if needed. You can find one in most general eye care clinics in your area. You can also reach out to your primary care provider or ask family or friends for recommendations.

Your insurance carrier will also be able to let you know what eye care providers and services are covered.

Take care of your eyes and your diabetes

Like most things in life with diabetes, your eyes require a little more attention and care than those without diabetes. This isn’t something to lose sleep over, just something to be aware of. Awareness facilitates action. By getting annual checkups with your eye care team, you can prevent and treat serious eye problems that result from diabetes. 

Diabetes can be a lot to figure out alone, but you don’t have to! Download our Beyond Diagnosis beginner guides for living with type 1 or type 2 diabetes here.