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For people with diabetes, managing their health often comes with a long checklist: medications, glucose monitoring, diet changes, regular doctor visits, and more. But one area many people overlook is their vision.
Diabetes is one of the leading causes of preventable blindness in the United States, yet many myths persist about when, why, and how often patients need eye care.
At Advanced Eye Care, we see firsthand how misunderstandings about diabetic eye health allow problems to progress. With so many people in our coastal community living with diabetes, it’s more important than ever to separate fact from fiction. Below, we break down the six most common myths we hear from patients.
Myth #1: “If my vision seems fine, my eyes are healthy.”
Reality: Diabetes can harm your eyes long before you notice symptoms.
One of the most dangerous assumptions diabetic patients make is believing that “no symptoms” means “no problem.” Diabetic retinopathy, the most common diabetes-related eye disease, often develops quietly. You can have retinal damage without any vision change.
Diabetes weakens and damages the tiny blood vessels inside the retina. These changes start microscopically and gradually worsen, eventually affecting clarity, sharpness, night vision, and even color perception.
This is why every patient with diabetes needs an annual diabetic eye exam, even if they feel their eyesight is “perfect.”
Myth #2: “I’ll know when diabetes starts affecting my eyes.”
Reality: By the time symptoms appear, damage may already be advanced.
Symptoms like floating spots, blurry patches, dark areas, or difficulty seeing at night are often signs of moderate to severe retinopathy, not the beginning. At this stage, retinal damage may already be permanent.
We use sophisticated imaging technology to detect even the smallest vascular changes in the retina, allowing us to catch disease early. The earlier we find it, the more we can do to protect your eyesight.
Myth #3: “My blood sugar is well managed, so I don’t need an eye exam.”
Reality: Even well-controlled diabetes can still impact your eyes.
While steady blood sugar is an incredibly important part of protecting your vision, it doesn’t guarantee immunity. Genetics, blood pressure, cholesterol levels, duration of diabetes, and lifestyle factors all contribute to the development of diabetic eye disease.
We frequently see patients who say, “My A1C is great, so why do I need an eye exam?”
Eye damage can still occur even with excellent glucose control. That’s why the American Diabetes Association and the American Optometric Association recommend a yearly eye exam for every diabetic patient, regardless of age, symptoms, or A1C results.
Myth #4: “A regular eye exam is enough to check for diabetic eye problems.”
Reality: You need an exam explicitly designed for diabetes.
A standard vision exam assesses refractive errors (nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism) and general eye health. At Advanced Eye Care, our diabetic eye exams evaluate:
- The health of the retinal blood vessels
- Signs of swelling or bleeding
- The thickness of the retina
- Early vascular changes invisible to the naked eye
- The optic nerve, macula, and peripheral retina
- UV-related damage—particularly relevant in sunny
- Subtle structural changes caused by long-term diabetes
This exam often includes dilation, ultra-widefield retinal imaging, and OCT (optical coherence tomography), which provides a cross-sectional view of the retina.
Myth #5: “Vision loss from diabetes can’t be prevented.”
Reality: Up to 90% of diabetes-related blindness is preventable with early detection.
This may be the most important truth. Research shows that most diabetic vision loss is avoidable when patients receive consistent monitoring and early treatment. Early diabetic retinopathy usually responds well to intervention and lifestyle modifications.
Patients who stay connected with a diabetic eye doctor are significantly more likely to maintain healthy vision in the long term.
Myth #6: “Only older adults get diabetic eye disease.”
Reality: Diabetes can affect the eyes regardless of age—even in young adults and teens.
While older adults are more likely to experience complications from diabetes due to the duration of the disease, age itself is not the primary risk factor.
A 28-year-old who has lived with type 1 diabetes since childhood may be at higher risk than a 65-year-old with recently diagnosed type 2 diabetes. We see younger patients every year who are surprised to learn they already have early retinal changes.
Diabetic Eye Care for Residents
While diabetic eye disease affects patients everywhere, coastal living can introduce added challenges:
- Stronger UV Exposure: Sunlight in is bright, intense, and year-round. UV exposure accelerates retinal stress, especially in patients with diabetes.
- Outdoor Lifestyle: Golfing, fishing, boating, and long beach days are central to life here. All require dependable vision and increased exposure to sunlight and glare.
- Higher Retiree Population: The Grand Strand attracts many retirees, a demographic more likely to have diabetes and more likely to skip diabetic eye exams if they “feel fine.”
At Advanced Eye Care, we understand the unique needs of our coastal community because we’re part of it. Dr. Reeves and his family have deep roots here, giving patients a trusted, local partner for chronic eye care.
Take Control of Your Vision Before Symptoms Start
If you’re living with diabetes, an annual eye exam is one of the most powerful tools you have to stay healthy. Don’t wait until vision changes appear.
Whether you were diagnosed recently or have been managing diabetes for decades, we’re here to support you every step of the way.