A local optometrist is a doctor who specializes in vision care. If you have diabetes, it’s important that you see your local optometrist every year for vision testing, measuring your prescription and screening. People with type 1 and type 2 diabetes are at a higher risk of developing certain eye-related diabetes complications, including glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy and cataracts. Also, diabetes affects the blood vessels, and the back of the eye is the only part of the body where a local optometrist can see the blood vessels directly. If you require surgery for an eye condition such as cataract surgery, or Diabetic Retinopathy your local optometrist will refer you to an ophthalmologist, which is a doctor who performs eye surgeries.