have their eyes screened yearly. A screening exam for diabetes must include dilation of the pupil (drops are placed in the eye to make the pupil larger) so that the retina can be thoroughly examined. If diabetic changes are found, Dr. Kozlow may recommend more frequent examinations, further testing, or referral to a retina specialist.
The retina is a thin layer of tissue that lines the back of the eye. Similar to the film in a camera, when light hits the retina it is translated into electrical signals that are sent to the brain, where the image of what we see is formed. When diabetic eye disease is present, common findings are bleeding and swelling in the retina. In early stages of the disease no symptoms are present, but screening eye examinations can allow for detection and treatment before sight-threatening changes develop. In more advanced diabetic eye disease, the eye can become filled with blood and the retina can become detached. This causes serious visual loss if left untreated.