Dr. Deshanie Govender is committed to prioritizing her patients’ long-term health and well-being, not just managing short-term symptoms. With extensive expertise in diabetes care, she understands how this chronic condition can impact every aspect of daily life, including vision.

According to the American Diabetes Association (ADA), diabetes significantly increases the risk of developing eye conditions such as diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, and cataracts. These complications often progress without noticeable symptoms in the early stages, making regular eye exams crucial.

Dr. Govender strongly advocates for annual comprehensive diabetic eye exams, in line with ADA guidelines.

How diabetes affects eye health

High blood sugar levels do much more than harm your heart and kidneys; it can also damage blood vessels in the eyes, leading to diabetic retinopathy, cataracts, and other vision problems. It does this by restricting blood flow and weakening delicate blood vessel walls, which can cause leakage, swelling, or abnormal vessel growth that impairs vision.

Here’s a closer look at how high blood sugar impacts eye health:

• Diabetic retinopathy (damage to the retina). Over time, high blood sugar levels damage the blood vessels that serve the retina in the back of your eyes.
• A cataract is a clouding of the lens of an eye. High blood sugar levels seem to promote cloudy buildups in the lens. People with diabetes are more likely to get cataracts and to get them at an earlier age than normal.
• This disease involves nerve damage in the eyes due to increased fluid pressure. It can lead to blindness. When high sugar levels damage the retina’s blood vessels, that can lead to an increase in eye pressure. Adults with diabetes are twice as likely to get glaucoma.

These complications frequently progress quietly, long before any warning signs appear. A diabetic eye exam uncovers hidden damage in its beginning stages, giving you the best chance to save your sight.

What to expect during a diabetic eye exam

A diabetic eye exam  is different from a standard eye test. Rather than focusing on visual acuity, this exam is designed to find complications caused by high blood sugar, like diabetic retinopathy or macular edema, which is swelling in the retina. After dilating your pupils and examining the back of your eyes, the doctor will have a clear view of how diabetes is affecting your vision. Here’s what you can expect during the exam:

• Review of medical history. Your doctor will go over your diabetes diagnosis, blood sugar control, and any vision changes you’ve noticed.
• Pupil dilation to check the retina. Special eye drops are used to widen your pupils, allowing a detailed look at the retina, blood vessels, and optic nerve. You may have to wait about 15 minutes for the drops to take effect. After the examination, your eyes may be sensitive to light for a few hours and your doctor may restrict you from driving yourself home.
• Imaging or specialized scans, if needed. Tests like fluorescein angiography or OCT (optical coherence tomography) may be performed to obtain cross-sectional images that reveal subtle leakage or swelling.

After the Exam:

Your vision may be blurry and your eyes sensitive to light for a few hours after dilation. It is safest not to drive until your vision returns to normal.

Remember: Even if your vision is good, regular diabetic eye exams are the best way to protect your sight

Why Is This Exam Important?

People with diabetes can develop serious eye problems without any warning signs. Early detection and treatment can prevent most vision loss from diabetic eye disease

The exam process is painless, and it makes early detection of diabetic eye diseases simple and convenient.

Supporting long-term health through preventive care

If you have diabetes, regular eye exams are important for protecting your vision. The American Diabetes Association (ADA) and the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) recommend these guidelines for diabetic eye exams and management.

• Type 1 Diabetes: Schedule your first dilated eye exam within 5 years of diagnosis. After that, get an exam every year.
• Type 2 Diabetes: Get a dilated eye exam as soon as you are diagnosed, since eye changes can happen before you notice symptoms. Continue with yearly exams.
• Pregnancy: If you have type 1 or type 2 diabetes and are planning to become pregnant, have an eye exam before pregnancy. Once pregnant, get an exam in the first trimester and follow-up exams every trimester during pregnancy and for one year after delivery as indicated by retinopathy severity and eye specialist’s recommendations. Pregnancy can make diabetic eye problems worse, so close monitoring is important.
• Prevention: Keeping your blood sugar and blood pressure in a healthy range lowers your risk of eye problems. Rapid changes in blood sugar control can sometimes make retinopathy worse, so changes should be made carefully with your doctor’s guidance.

Dr. Govender takes a proactive, patient-centered approach to managing Type 2 diabetes, with a strong focus on education and empowerment. As a family medicine physician, she plays a key role in early detection, ongoing management, and prevention of complications associated with diabetes—guided by best practices from the American Diabetes Association (ADA).

She understands the vital connection between blood sugar levels and long-term health, including the impact on vision. By combining diabetic eye exams with routine checkups and regular monitoring, Dr. Govender supports patients in achieving better outcomes for both their eye health and overall diabetes control.

As part of comprehensive diabetes care, family medicine physicians like Dr. Govender are equipped to:

• Diagnose and manage Type 2 diabetes using ADA-recommended screening tools and clinical guidelines
• Monitor A1C, blood pressure, cholesterol, and kidney function to reduce the risk of complications
• Provide regular diabetic retinopathy screening referrals and coordinate care with eye specialists
• Offer lifestyle counseling on nutrition, physical activity, and weight management
• Prescribe and adjust medications including insulin or oral agents, as needed
• Educate patients on blood sugar monitoring and the importance of self-management
• Screen for and address complications such as neuropathy, kidney disease, and cardiovascular issues
• Develop personalized preventive care strategies to help patients meet their health goals
• Empower patients through knowledge so they can take an active role in managing their condition

Dr. Govender’s integrative and supportive approach helps patients with diabetes stay on top of their health and prevent long-term complications, all within the familiar setting of primary care.

When to call the doctor

If you notice blurred vision, floaters, or sudden changes in your eyesight, call your doctor right away. These symptoms can be signs of diabetes-related eye problems, which need prompt attention.

Catching diabetic eye disease early and treating it properly can help prevent vision loss and, in many cases, improve your vision. Treatments may include medicines injected into the eye, laser therapy, or other procedures, depending on your condition. Keeping your blood sugar and blood pressure under control also lowers your risk of eye problems.

Schedule your diabetic eye exam

If you have diabetes, you do not have to risk losing your vision. Many people with diabetes can have serious eye problems without any warning signs, so waiting for symptoms is not safe. That’s why Dr. Govender recommends scheduling a yearly diabetic eye exam, even if your vision seems fine. Early detection means treatment can start right away, which can prevent vision loss and sometimes even improve your vision.

Dr. Govender can help you connect with an eye specialist to book your appointment. The team will monitor any changes in your eyes and start treatment if needed.

About Dr. Govender

Dr. Deshanie Govender of Tampa, a family medicine specialist, is an advocate for patient-centered, team-based treatment. Her goal is to help each patient feel heard, valued, and empowered to make positive changes to their health through preventative medication, education, and lifestyle counseling.

She received her M.D. from St. George’s University School of Medicine. Dr. Govender established The Period Project Corporation to alleviate period poverty and developed a smartphone app to assist students with impairments.

Request an appointment online or by calling (813) 875-8453.