Diabetes is a complex disease resulting from the inability of the body to produce insulin, a hormone that takes sugar out of the blood and into cells where it can be used for energy. Without enough insulin, there is too much sugar in your blood.

If you have diabetes, you probably already know that one of the common complications of elevated blood sugar is diabetic retinopathy, which is when elevated blood sugar damages the tiny blood vessels in the retina, the light-sensitive tissue that lines the back of the eye. If untreated, diabetic retinopathy can lead to permanent vision loss and blindness.

Nearly 16 million American have diabetes and during their lifetimes, about half of those people will develop diabetic retinopathy. Annually, as many as 25,000 people lose their vision due to diabetes-related complications.

In addition to retinopathy, people with diabetes are nearly twice as likely to develop cataracts as other adults, and cataracts tend to develop at an earlier age. A cataract is a clouding of the eye’s lens that results in blurring of normal vision. 

Some studies show that individuals with diabetes also are almost twice as likely to suffer from glaucoma. The longer someone has had diabetes, the more common glaucoma is. Typically glaucoma occurs when pressure builds up in the eye. The pressure damages the optic nerve in the back of the eye, and vision is gradually lost due to the damage. Unfortunately, individuals are often unaware of this loss of vision until it is extreme.

This all sounds scary – and it is! But, with proper medical care and comprehensive eye exams at least every year, all of this can be prevented. November is Diabetes Awareness Month. Our office is planning a health education event for those affected with diabetes. We will have more information about this event soon. Stay tuned to our blog and Facebook page, as we will be posting details there. For more information about the effects of diabetes on your vision, please see our website. If you have any questions, please call our office at 434.823.4441.

November is American Diabetes Month. As a Doctor of Optometry, this health campaign is extremely important to me, as diabetes and eye health are very closely linked.

Did you know that diabetes is the leading cause of new cases of blindness among people aged 20-74? The American Optometric Association (AOA) reports that diabetic retinopathy causes 12,000 to 24,000 new cases of blindness each year. This statistic is staggering to me, as it simply does not have to be! People with diabetes can maintain optimal vision and healthy eyes by having comprehensive eye exams and carefully controlling their blood sugars.

One of the main causes of blindness in diabetics is Diabetic Retinopathy (DR), a condition in which elevated blood sugar damages the delicate blood vessels inside the eye, causing them to leak, bleed and become blocked. Over time, the damage to these vessels can cause permanent vision loss. Fortunately, early detection and treatment of DR can prevent or delay blindness in 90% of people with diabetes!

Here are some other important facts:

1. Comprehensive eye exams from Doctors of Optometry are often the key in detecting diabetes. It is important for everyone to make sure they are scheduling exams annually.
2. Annual eye exams and carefully controlling blood sugars can drastically decrease the risk of vision loss and help prevent the onset of diabetic retinopathy in persons with diabetes.
3. People with diabetes are 4% more likely to develop glaucoma and 50% more likely to develop cataracts. Two more major reasons to have that annual eye exam!
4. A primary care physician does not have the training, or often the equipment, to do a comprehensive diabetes eye exam. It is important to visit an eye care professional who has experience working with diabetic patients.

If you or someone you know has diabetes, please share this post with them. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Franklin or Dr. Quesenberry, both trained and experienced in treating patients with diabetes, please call our office at 434-823-4441.