Diabetes Eye Exams
& Eye Care.
You’re Not Alone in This Journey. Trust Our Expert Optometrists to Safeguard Your Vision Against Diabetes Eye Disease.
Save Your Sight: Early Detection for a Brighter Future
Diabetes eye disease is a leading cause of vision loss in Alberta. With cutting-edge technology and expert optometrists, Helio Optometry is here to protect your eyes and your future.
Schedule Your Appointment Today
What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic health condition resulting from the body's inability to produce and/or properly use insulin. Insulin is a hormone that regulates how sugar is stored and used in the body. The body needs insulin to use sugar as an energy source.
Nearly 5.7 million Canadians currently have Diabetes (Type 1 & 2), and another 5 million have prediabetes. This means that almost 1 in 5 Canadians is at risk of developing Diabetic eye disease, and the trend is rising. Currently, in Alberta, nearly 1 in 9 people have diabetes.
There are several forms of diabetes: type 1, type 2 and gestational diabetes.
Diabetes Affects Everything.
Diabetes is a systemic condition which means it can also increase your chance of developing other health problems, such as:
Heart Disease
Kidney Disease
Erectile Dysfunction in Men
Nerve Damage
Amputation
Eye Disease & Blindness
Visual fluctuations 2nd to unstable blood sugar levels
Dry eye syndrome
What is Diabetic Eye Disease?
Diabetic eye disease is a group of eye problems affecting people with Diabetes (Type 1 & 2). These conditions include Diabetic Retinopathy, Diabetic Macular Edema, Diabetic Cataracts, and Glaucoma. Over time, Diabetes can cause irreversible damage to your eyes, leading to vision loss. Diabetic eye disease, however, is not inevitable. By taking care of your Diabetes, you can prevent diabetic eye disease or prevent it from worsening.
The Five best ways you can keep your eyes healthy if you have Diabetes are:
Manage your blood glucose or sugar levels.
Manage your blood pressure.
Manage your cholesterol.
If you smoke, quit.
Have a dilated eye exam every year.
Most people have minimal or no symptoms in the early stages of being diagnosed with diabetes. Still, it's important not to be complacent. Early diagnosis, management and treatment are critical to ensure your eyes and eyesight remain healthy. To learn more about how diabetes affects your eyes, check out our article on understanding how diabetes affects your vision.
Your eyes may seem fine, but having a dilated diabetes eye exam every year is the only way to know for sure.
Diabetes Eye Health Exams Are Needed Every Year
At Helio Optometry, we combine the world-standard dilated eye exam with cutting-edge technology like Optomap Ultra-Widefield Retinal Imaging and 3D OCT Retinal Scans to detect even the subtlest changes in your eye health. These advanced tools allow us to thoroughly evaluate the small blood vessels in your retina and identify early signs of diabetic eye disease, often before symptoms appear.
Despite the availability of diabetes screening and eye exams, up to 40% of Canadians skip their annual eye health check-ups, with even higher rates among new Canadians and those in lower-income neighborhoods. This gap in care is concerning because early detection and treatment are critical to preventing or slowing vision loss caused by diabetes.
Don’t wait—regular eye exams are your best defense against diabetes-related vision loss. Let us help you stay ahead of the curve.
We use leading technology like Optomap Ultra Widefield Imaging to help uncover the early signs of diabetic eye disease. Our advanced camera systems allow you to see what we see.
Prevention is the Best Medicine: Are you At Risk of Developing Diabetes?
Take the CANRISK test on the Canadian Government website to know your risk.
Frequently Asked Questions
The most commonly asked questions are listed here. If you have additional concerns, please get in touch with the Helio Optometry team anytime.
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An annual diabetes eye health exam helps detect early signs of diabetic eye disease, such as retinopathy, which often has no symptoms until it becomes severe. Early detection can prevent vision loss and other complications.
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Yes, many diabetic eye conditions show no symptoms in the early stages. Regular exams ensure any issues are caught and treated early, protecting your vision.
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Diabetes can damage blood vessels in the retina, leading to vision problems. Annual exams monitor eye health and help prevent or manage complications like diabetic retinopathy.
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You can book your exam by calling our office or using our online booking system.
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There is usually no cost for a diabetes eye health exam in Alberta when you visit your optometrist. Occasionally, there may be a small co-pay if you require additional tests not covered by the Alberta Health Care plan or if you've already had a diabetes eye health exam by another optometrist.
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Bring your Alberta Health Care card, doctor's name, current medications, and any previous eye health records. If you wear glasses or contacts, bring them too.
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Yes, dilation is typically part of the exam to allow a thorough view of your retina and detect any signs of diabetic eye disease. Dilation enables us to capture clear images with our cameras and to examine the complete lens structure for early signs of cataracts.
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Dilation involves special eye drops to temporarily enlarge your pupils, giving your optometrist a better view of the retina. It may cause temporary blurriness and light sensitivity. Please bring sunglasses or a driver to your appointment if you don't feel comfortable driving home afterwards. However, most people can safely drive home after having their eyes dilated.
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The whole exam usually takes about 30-40 minutes, including dilation, testing and seeing the eye doctor. Plan for extra time, as dilation effects can last a few hours.
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Yes, we'll send a detailed report to your primary care physician or diabetes doctor to ensure coordinated care.
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While telehealth and screening clinics are useful for some consultations, a diabetes eye health exam requires in-person testing to evaluate your retina and detect early signs of retinal changes. A dilated eye exam is considered the standard of care worldwide and by the Alberta College of Optometrists.
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Absolutely. Adults aged 19-64 can get their diabetes eye exam on the same day. However, seniors 65+ and children 0-18 must book their diabetes eye health exams on a separate day to be covered by Alberta Health Care. This change was introduced by the Alberta Government in 2025.
Guard Your Vision: Proactive Care for Lasting Eye Health
Diabetes-related eye conditions are a major cause of preventable vision loss in Alberta. At Helio Optometry, we combine advanced technology with compassionate care to detect issues early and help you maintain clear, healthy vision for years to come. Your eyes deserve the best—let us be your partner in prevention.
