Diabetes is a systemic disease that affects the whole body, including the eyes. The risk of blindness is higher for someone with diabetes. Because diabetes increases your risk for eye disease and blindness, patients with diabetes must get regular eye examinations.

If you have recently been diagnosed with diabetes, you should visit your optometrist as soon as possible for a comprehensive, diabetic eye examination. After that, you should visit at least once per year for a diabetic eye examination, though your optometrist may suggest you visit more often.