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Many people don’t realize that eyelashes are both functional and attractive. The purpose of eyelashes is to act as a first line of defense for our eyes, preventing airborne dirt, dust and other debris from reaching the delicate tissues of our eyes. You probably don’t know that when your eyes are closed, your eyelashes form a nearly impenetrable barrier against foreign irritants entering the eyes. 

Unfortunately, we aren’t all blessed with naturally thick, luscious lashes. In fact, many people choose to get artificial eyelashes or eyelash extensions to make them appear longer or thicker than they really are. Unfortunately, the challenge of achieving voluminous eyelashes is even greater if you suffer from a condition called hypotrichosis. 

The Importance of Diabetic Eye Exams at Diplopia

Diabetes is a complex condition that affects the entire body, including the eyes. At Diplopia, Dr. Kyser understands the critical importance of proactive and comprehensive eye care for diabetic patients. With advanced technology and a holistic approach, she ensures that each patient receives the best possible care to preserve their vision and overall eye health.

Cutting-Edge Technology for Diabetic Eye Exams

At Diplopia, Dr. Kyser uses state-of-the-art diagnostic tools to monitor and manage diabetic eye health. These include:

• Retinal Imaging: Captures detailed images of the retina, allowing for a clear view of any changes in the blood vessels or other diabetic complications.

• Visual Field Testing: Assesses peripheral vision, which can be affected by diabetic retinopathy.

• Color Vision Testing: Detects any early color vision abnormalities, which can be a sign of diabetic changes.

• Full-Field Electroretinography (ffERG): One of the most advanced tools at Diplopia, ffERG tests the health of the photoreceptors in the eye. This test can detect diabetic-related issues even before visible changes are seen in a retinal exam, allowing for early intervention and better management.

These tools are crucial in diagnosing diabetic retinopathy early, before any noticeable symptoms occur, ensuring that patients can maintain optimal vision for as long as possible.

Why Annual Eye Exams Matter for Diabetic Patients

Dr. Kyser recommends that most asymptomatic diabetic patients undergo a comprehensive eye exam annually. This allows her to detect any subtle changes in the eyes before vision is affected. For patients showing early signs of diabetic retinopathy or other complications, follow-up appointments every 4 to 6 months may be necessary to monitor progression and adjust treatment plans.
 

Diabetic retinopathy can develop without warning, and without regular exams, patients risk permanent vision loss. The earlier problems are detected, the more likely they are to be managed effectively, minimizing damage.

ffERG: Predicting the Future of Your Eye Health

What sets Diplopia apart is the use of ffERG, which offers a glimpse into the future of a diabetic patient’s eye health. This technology evaluates the function of the retina at a deeper level, detecting issues with the photoreceptors—the cells responsible for capturing light—before they become apparent during a standard exam. By identifying potential complications early, Dr. Kyser can intervene with preventative care, helping patients avoid more invasive treatments like laser therapy or injections down the road.

Coordinated Care for a Holistic Approach

At Diplopia, Dr. Kyser takes a holistic approach to diabetic care. She works closely with each patient's primary care physician or endocrinologist to ensure that the treatment plan is cohesive and that the patient’s eye care is part of their overall diabetes management. Communication is key, and Dr. Kyser ensures that the patient’s care team is kept informed of any significant findings from the eye exam.

Diet and Whole-Body Health: More Than Just Eyes

Dr. Kyser doesn’t just focus on the eyes—she treats diabetic patients as whole individuals. Diabetes is a systemic condition, and the health of the body directly affects the health of the eyes. One of the first steps she takes in managing diabetes is discussing dietary habits with her patients.
 

Dr. Kyser emphasizes the importance of reducing carbohydrate intake and eliminating processed foods and seed oils from the diet. She may also recommend nutraceuticals to support overall health and help manage specific symptoms. This comprehensive approach can improve both the patient’s systemic health and their eye health.

Preventing Complications Before They Arise

One of the primary goals of Diplopia is to avoid the need for invasive treatments like laser procedures or injections, which become necessary when diabetic eye disease progresses to more advanced stages. With regular exams, advanced diagnostics like ffERG, and personalized care plans, Dr. Kyser helps her patients avoid these complications through early intervention.  Diabetic eye care at Diplopia is about more than just managing eye health—it’s about taking a proactive, whole-body approach to prevent complications before they arise. With advanced technology and personalized, compassionate care, Dr. Kyser and the team at Diplopia are dedicated to preserving the vision and well-being of every diabetic patient.

If you’ve had a vision screening recently, you might say, “My vision is fine! I don’t need a comprehensive eye exam.”

But a vision screening provides a limited perspective on the overall health of your eyes. It’s a bit like getting your blood pressure checked and not getting the rest of your annual physical. You’ll have useful information, but it’s not the whole picture.
 

What are the Limitations of a Vision Screening?

Vision screenings only test your ability to see clearly in the distance. This is called visual acuity and is just one factor in your overall vision. Others include color vision, peripheral vision, and depth perception. The screening also doesn’t evaluate how well the eyes focus up close or work together. Most importantly, it doesn’t give any information about the health of the eyes.
 

Vision screenings are conducted by individuals untrained in eye health.

Vision screenings are offered in many places – schools, health fairs, as part of a work physical or for a driver’s license. Even if your physician conducts the screening, he/she is a generalist and only has access to a certain amount of eye health training. Most individuals don’t have the tools or knowledge to give you a complete assessment of your vision or eye health.

Vision screenings use inadequate testing equipment.
In some cases, a vision screening is limited to an eye chart across the room. Even when conducted in a physician's office, they won’t have the extensive testing equipment of an eye doctor. They also won’t be aware of nuances such as room lighting and testing distances all of which are factors that can affect test results.
 

What are the Benefits of a Comprehensive Eye Exam?

Comprehensive eye exams evaluate all aspects of your vision and eye health.
The comprehensive eye exam looks at your eye externally and internally for any signs of eye disease, then tests your vision in a variety of ways.

Just a few decades ago, computer vision syndrome (CVS) was not known or understood. However, with an increase in the role of computers in our lives, it has become an increasingly common issue. Researchers believe that 50-90% of people who use computers in their daily lives have experienced CVS to some degree. The amount of time that many people stare into a computer screen is increasing, which puts significant strain on our eyes.

CVS is not considered a single specific problem, but a suite of issues. And with the increased use of school computers, tablets and smartphones, children are also becoming more susceptible to CVS.

This syndrome is similar to many other repetitive motion type conditions such as carpal tunnel syndrome. Problems can start because as we are reading text on a screen, our eyes move in a repetitive motion throughout the day. Once the issue has started, continuing the same behavior can worsen any symptoms. While reading alone uses the same motion, digital screens add flicker, contrast, glare, and light that all put additional strain on our eyes.

Issues may also be accelerated if you should be wearing some type of corrective lens, but don't, and are therefore putting additional strain on your eyes.

Aging can also speed up the progress of these issues. Around the time that people turn 40, the lenses of the eyes begin to harden due to a disease called presbyopia, which affects your ability to see closer objects.
 

What Happens if I have CVS?

There is currently no proof that CVS causes long-term vision impairment or blindness. Continuing to use a computer or any other type of screen can continue to be an annoyance or reduce your ability to see properly. Some of the warning signs of CVS are:

• Blurred vision

• Double vision

• Red or dry eyes

• Headaches

• Neck pain

• Back pain

• Eye Irritation

If you don’t properly treat CVS when these symptoms occur, you may begin to notice that you suffer from a decrease in overall quality of life or job performance.