How Diabetes Affect Eyesight?
If you have diabetes, you understand how difficult it can be to keep track of all the variables. Nearly every aspect of your life contributes to keeping your blood sugar under control. Failure to do so can endanger organs such as your heart, kidneys, and nerves. High blood sugar levels can also impair your vision. That’s why when it comes to managing your diabetes, you should be aware of how diabetes affects your vision and your risk of diabetic eye diseases such as diabetic retinopathy and glaucoma. You should also ensure that you have annual comprehensive eye exams with your ophthalmologist to stay on top of your overall eye health.
A general overview of the correlation between diabetes and eyesight from our Los Angeles LASIK experts.
As you already know, diabetes impairs your body’s ability to use or produce insulin effectively in order to control blood sugar (glucose) levels. High blood sugar levels can harm several different parts of your body, and this includes the heart, kidneys, and blood vessels.
Along with these vital organs, high blood sugar levels can harm your eyes in a variety of ways. This can result in damage to the tiny blood vessels in your eyes as well as fluid accumulation on the retina. If left undiagnosed or untreated, you may suffer irreversible vision damage or even blindness.
Fortunately for diabetics, 9 out of 10 percent of vision loss caused by diabetes can be avoided if detected early. The issue is that 2 out of 3 diabetics do not have regular eye exams. If you want to avoid diabetes-related blindness, early detection is critical. However, you must ensure that you receive the proper type of exam or you risk developing diabetic eye disease.
Do I qualify for Los Angeles LASIK if I have type 1 or type 2 diabetes?
There is no straightforward answer to this question. You will need to come in for a consultation appointment to not only evaluate the quality of your current eyesight, but also your blood pressure, and answer questions about medications you are taking as well as any other significant health conditions you are experiencing. Unfortunately, if your diabetes has truly affected your eyesight, you may not qualify for LASIK. It is critical that you are 100% honest with the Los Angeles LASIK surgeon, otherwise, you will put yourself at great medical risk. Luckily for you, consultation appointments at Excel Eye are completely free of charge.
Key Considerations for Diabetic Patients Considering LASIK:
1. Stability of Vision:
Diabetic patients need to have a stable prescription for at least a year prior to LASIK surgery. Fluctuations in blood glucose levels can lead to changes in vision, so stability is crucial for accurate corneal reshaping.
2. Control of Diabetes:
Good control of diabetes is vital. Patients considering LASIK should have well-documented control of their blood sugar levels, as confirmed by their primary care physician or endocrinologist. This stability reduces the risk of postoperative complications and improves healing.
3. Thorough Ocular Examination:
At Excel Laser Vision Institute, Doctor Ferzaad Moosa conducts comprehensive ocular health assessments to identify any diabetes-related complications, such as diabetic retinopathy or macular edema, which could impact the safety or outcome of LASIK surgery.
4. Risk of Complications:
Diabetic patients are at a higher risk of infections and slower healing after any surgical procedure, including LASIK. Detailed discussions with Doctor Moosa regarding the risks and benefits will help ensure that every patient makes an educated decision.
5. Post-Surgery Considerations:
Following LASIK, diabetic patients require close monitoring to manage any complications promptly. Doctor Moosa and the team at Excel Laser Vision Institute provide tailored post-operative care plans to address the specific needs of diabetic patients, ensuring optimal recovery and results.
The Role of Advanced Technology at Excel Laser Vision Institute
Utilizing state-of-the-art technology, such as the VisuMax® laser and the WaveLight EX500 Excimer Laser, Doctor Moosa ensures precise and customized vision correction tailored to the unique needs of diabetic patients. These advanced technologies help minimize the risk and maximize the effectiveness of LASIK for patients with complex health backgrounds.
Want to find out if you’re a candidate for Los Angeles LASIK? Schedule a free consultation appointment today!
For diabetic patients in Los Angeles considering LASIK surgery, consulting with a knowledgeable and experienced LASIK surgeon like Doctor Ferzaad Moosa is crucial. At Excel Laser Vision Institute, we prioritize patient safety and personalized care, ensuring that all aspects of your health are considered before proceeding with surgery. If you’re managing diabetes and contemplating LASIK, let us guide you through your options for achieving clearer vision safely and effectively.
The Deadly Dangers of Driving at Night
Did you know that most car accidents in the United States happen in the dead of night? In fact, according to the National Safety Council, 50% of fatal car accidents happen at night even though humans only spend a quarter of their lives driving at that time.
Below are the main reasons why driving at night is so dangerous.
You See Less at Night
Unless you’re a cat with enhanced vision in the dark, it’s extremely difficult to see things at night, even with perfect vision. Your headlights can only illuminate things to a certain extent—you’re still bound to miss certain road features like curves, potholes, sidewalks, and other things that can potentially harm you and your car.
Even worse, it’s a lot harder to see animals and people. How many horror stories have you heard about deer or moose suddenly appearing out of nowhere while you were driving at night? Not only can driving at night be dangerous to you, but it can also be dangerous for others—it’s a lose-lose situation for everybody.
You Have a Slower Reaction Time
Because your eyes see less at night, your body has less time to react to certain things. This is especially grimmer because people tend to drive faster at night—with less traffic around, people feel more confident about speeding.
This combination of slower reaction time and higher speed can be fatal. According to a study done by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, car accidents caused by speeding occur twice as much at night than during the day.
You’re Prone to Light-Related Issues
If you think that more light when night driving is a good thing, then think again! Light-related issues like glares, halos, and blurred vision can negatively impact your vision at night. It’s the same kind of pain and discomfort you feel when someone turns the lights on you while you’re sleeping—your eyes have a hard time adjusting to sudden, bright lights, and that can make all the difference between life and death.
You’re Sleepier at Night
If you’re driving late at night, chances are you’re lacking sleep. Being sleepy makes you less aware of your surroundings, making you more prone to accidents or poor driving decisions, or worse, falling asleep behind the wheel!
How to Practice Safe Driving at Night
Now that you’re aware of the risks of night driving, it’s time to learn how to mitigate them. Below are several effective ways to improve your safety when driving at night.
Avoid Driving at Night
The best way to avoid accidents caused by driving at night is, of course, to avoid driving at night altogether. As much as possible, you should squeeze in all of your outdoor activities in the daytime so you can be home safe and sound before the sun sets.
If you’re someone who can’t avoid driving at night due to things like night shifts or emergencies, then just make sure to take extra precautions. Reduce your driving speed. Drive in well-lit areas. Have a friend to keep you company so you won’t be tempted to fall asleep. All of these will up your safety considerably.
Keep Everything Clean
You’ve already got low visibility due to lack of light—don’t make it even lower with dirty cars!
Keep everything nice and squeaky clean, including your windshield, side mirrors, side windows, and rearview mirror. This way, you can readily see things whenever you need to. Remember to clean the inside part of your windows, too; many people forget that it gets just as dirty as the outside!
Also, keep your eyeglasses just as clean. Or better yet, invest in laser eye surgery costs so you’ll never have to worry about eyeglasses or contact lenses ever again.
Be Well-Rested
If you plan on driving at night, make sure you have a few hours of sleep beforehand at the very least, and never drive if you’ve been awake for more than 16 hours. If you find yourself yawning or struggling to keep your eyes open, then pull over for a nap or find the nearest accommodation as soon as possible and continue driving in the morning.
Sleep is an absolute must if you want to keep your mind alert on your journey.
Schedule Eye Exams with Your Doctor
Keep your eyes and eyesight in tip-top shape by making regular visits to your eye doctor. They’ll be able to assess any issues with your eyes, like astigmatism or cataracts that can affect your driving at night. They can also prescribe you medications and/or corrective measures to fix it.
Don’t forget to ask your doctor about anti-glare lenses, polarized glasses, or LASIK in Los Angeles!
Conclusion
There is no excuse for poor driving behavior and etiquette when driving at night. Not only are you a danger to yourself, but you’re also a danger to other people! Keep you and your loved ones safe at all times by driving extra carefully, keeping your car clean and fully functional, and being healthy (i.e., having your vision checked regularly and never driving with alcohol or drugs in your system).
If you’re a frequent night driver and are interested in learning more about improving your vision for driving at night, then might we recommend visiting your nearest Los Angeles LASIK surgeon, Dr. Ferzaad Moosa? He is an experienced surgeon with more than two decades of service under his belt. Schedule a free consultation with him today at (310) 905-8622 to see if LASIK can help keep you safer not only at night but the whole day!