People with diabetes should have an annual eye examination.  This exam is so important that it’s considered to be one of the “standards of care” for people with diabetes. 

If blood sugar (and/or blood pressure) is too high, it can affect the delicate blood vessels in the retina, or back part of the eye.  Although damage to the retina often has no early warning signs, it can lead to loss of vision if untreated.  The only way to know if your eyes are affected is to have the pupils dilated and the vessels examined by a qualified healthcare professional.  The staff at Alamo Diabetes Team are certified in performing digital images of the retina. 

Getting Your Eyes Examined

A prescription is obtained from your doctor to authorize the exam.

Click here to download a prescription.

• Insurance is verified, and you are notified of the coverage details.
  
  
• At your appointment, mild dilating drops are placed in each eye.  About 15-20 minutes later, the pupils will be opened wide enough to take the pictures. 
  
  
• You will be comfortably seated in front of a special digital camera called a DigiScope® (see photo). 
  
  
  
  
• As you look at a blinking light
  inside the camera, the
  technician will take several
  pictures of each retina. 
  This is painless, and takes
  about 10 minutes to complete
  both eyes.
  
  
• After the exam, you may relax
  for a few minutes until your
  vision is clear enough to drive
  home.  You can wear your own
  sunglasses, or a pair will be
  given to you, as your eyes may be sensitive to sunlight for a while.
  
  
• The images captured by the DigiScope® are evaluated by the
  eye specialists at the Wilmer Ophthalmological Institute at Johns Hopkins Medical Center. 
  
  
  
  
• A report is written and
  forwarded to your physician.
   
• Your physician will discuss
  your exam results with you,
  and any recommendations
  made by the eye specialist.

Insurance Coverage

Insurance coverage varies by health plan, but dilated eye examination is generally a covered benefit for people with diabetes. Alamo Diabetes Team is contracted to perform this exam by the following health plans / provider networks:

Aetna
Blue Cross / Blue Shield
Cigna
Community First Health Plan
Great-West
Humana
San Antonio Employees Health Alliance (provider network)
Texas True Choice / Ethix Southwest (provider network)