Diabetic Eye Disease………

Thanks to our associate and colleague Francis N. Campagna, Jr, O.D. for submitting the following article about a leading cause of blindness in the United States…….

The Centers for Disease Control reported that in 2008 there were twenty-four million people in the United States who have diabetes.  Among people 60 and older, nearly one out of four have diabetes.  An additional 57 million people- 40% of those aged 40 to 70- have pre-diabetes.  Diabetes is a life-long illness, which necessitates serious lifestyle changes for those with the disease, as well as those at high risk.  Potential health consequences include cardiovascular disease, end stage renal disease, loss of lower extremities, and visual impairment.

Diabetes is the leading cause of blindness among adults aged 20 to 74.  In 2005, 3.2 million adults with diabetes reported visual impairment, which means even with glasses or contact lenses, they could not see normally.  In the same year, 27% of adults with diabetes aged 75 and older reported visual impairment, compared with 15.2% of adult diabetics aged 18-44.

Of great significance is the effect diabetes can have on the retinas, which line the back of the inside of the eye.  The retinas have tiny delicate blood vessels.  Vessels can swell and weaken, or become clogged.  In the diabetic this is termed Diabetic Retinopathy. This often can be caught in the early stages with regular eye exams, and when indicated, treated, to slow vision loss.  The Optomap Retinal Exam is an excellent way to have your retinas examined.  The Optomap Exam is one of the most useful and exciting advancements we have seen in eye care.  It provides a comfortable means of evaluation and documentation.  It typically does not require pupil dilation with eyedrops, and is available at each of our office locations.

Additional ocular complications of diabetes include a 40% increase in the incidence of glaucoma, a slow, painless blinding eye disease.  Diabetics also are 60% more likely to develop cataracts.  They tend to occur at a younger age, and progress more quickly.

Having regular eye examinations is an important part of our health care regimen, but especially when one is diabetic.  A yearly exam is generally recommended as the minimum.