Eye health

The risk of serious eye problems increases when you have blood glucose levels above target for a long time, or if your blood pressure or cholesterol levels are high. Work with your diabetes health professionals to keep your blood glucose levels, blood pressure and cholesterol as close to your target ranges as possible.

Have regular eye checks with your optometrist or ophthalmologist. See your optometrist or ophthalmologist for an eye check as soon as you notice any changes in your vision.

Register with KeepSight to make it easier to remember to book regular eye checks.

Get your eyes checked

Register for the eye check reminder program for people with diabetes.

Go to Keepsight

Your doctor
Initially, your doctor may check your eyes. Your doctor will support you in your day-to-day diabetes management and will be your contact person if you need to be referred to other specialist health care team members as needed. Your doctor will advise you how often you need to have an eye check.

Optometrist
An optometrist can check your eye health ( and may refer you to an ophthalmologist for treatment). Your eyes can be checked by an optometrist without the need for a medical referral. This is covered by Medicare.

Ophthalmologist
An ophthalmologist is a medical specialist in eye care and management. An ophthalmologist will be involved if specialised medical care or treatment is required, such as laser surgery or other specialist procedures to improve vision or to prevent loss of vision. You need a referral to see an ophthalmologist.

Diabetes can cause both short-term and long-term eye problems.

Have regular eyes checks by an optometrist or an eye specialist (ophthalmologist) to look for early signs of damage. If you notice any changes in your vision in between your routine eye checks, discuss this with your optometrist, eye specialist or doctor.

Have your eyes checked more often if your eye care health professional advises. This is very important if you already have eye problems or are planning a pregnancy.

Register with KeepSight to make it easier to remember to book regular eye checks.

Get your eyes checked

Register for the eye check reminder program for people with diabetes.

Go to Keepsight

It is essential to do an annual cycle of care to find any health problems early. Without regular checks, diabetes can lead to health problems that can affect your whole body, including your kidneys, eyes, feet, nerves and heart. Ask your doctor for the timing of health checks and targets that meet your individual health needs.

Read more in our fact sheet or listen to our podcast series.

Your diabetes annual cycle of care fact sheet

The diabetes annual cycle of care is a checklist for reviewing your diabetes management and general health each year.

Download now

Annual cycle of care podcast series

Listen to our Annual cycle of care podcast series to learn more about what it is, why it’s important, and what you need to know about it.

Available in other languages Listen now

Diabetes can sometimes cause the focusing ability of the eye to weaken or to fluctuate from day to day. The problem eases when blood glucose levels are stable. Diabetes can also cause more serious changes in the eyes, primarily through its effects on the blood vessels in the retina.

Diabetic retinopathy is a complication of diabetes that can damage the tiny blood vessels inside the retina at the back of the eye. This can cause bleeding and swelling in the retina and seriously affect vision, and in some cases cause blindness.

Symptoms of diabetic retinopathy

In its early stages, there may be no symptoms or changes to your vision, as the damaged areas may only affect the edge of the retina. An eye test can detect the condition before you notice any changes to your vision. As retinopathy progresses, symptoms can include:

• blurred or distorted vision that is not improved with prescription glasses
• seeing floating spots or flashes
• sensitivity to light and glare
• difficulty seeing at night.

It is important to have regular eye checks. This allows diabetic retinopathy to be diagnosed and treated early before it becomes more serious and affects your vision.