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As you age, you may discover that your vision just isn’t as sharp as it used to be. Vision changes can occur over time and cause you to wonder if what you are experiencing is normal or if you should schedule an appointment with your eye doctor.

If you have been diagnosed with diabetes, annual eye exams will help to protect your eyes from serious sight-threatening eye diseases, linked to diabetes. Diabetes is a condition that prevents the body from using and storing sugar properly. As a result, excessive amounts of sugar remain in the bloodstream and if uncontrolled, can cause damage to the tiny blood vessels all over the body, including those in your eyes.

Diabetic retinopathy is a serious sight-threatening complication of diabetes that can lead to blindness. This ocular disease is caused by high levels of sugar in the bloodstream and results in progressive damage to the light detecting retina responsible for sending visual signals to the brain.

Do you or a loved one have low vision? Low vision is diagnosed when vision cannot be fully corrected with glasses, contact lenses, or eye surgery— allowing you to participate in every day activities. It is often accompanied by blurred vision, blind spots or tunnel vision— and may also be called legal blindness. Low vision may prevent you from driving, watching TV, reading, using a computer or participating in your favorite hobbies.

Have you been told you have an eye disease or need eye surgery? This guide will help you understand the 4 most common eye conditions: