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Prevent Diabetes Blindness Diabetes is the No.1 cause of blindness among Americans between the ages of 25 and 74, blinding a 39,000 Americans annually. The real tragedy is that half of the 39,000 cases of blindness each year could have been prevented with regular eye exams. Diabetes is a complex disorder characterized by high levels of blood sugar (glucose) and a lack of natural insulin. The disease weakens small blood vessels in the eye and other organs. Complications of the disease include diabetic retinopathy-the vascular changes to the light-sensitive nerve tissue, the retina, which lines the back of the eye. Retinopathy affects the small blood vessels inside the eye and causes leakage of blood and serum into the retina. This can result in blurred central or peripheral vision in advanced cases. Once early leakage is detected, laser treatment can slow or reverse this process. If treatment is delayed, the damage can progress to abnormal new-vessel growth, hemorrhaging, scarring and ultimately blindness. In the United States, there are 14 million diabetics: half whom remain undiagnosed and untreated. In Michigan, there are 472,000 diabetics over the age of 40, with 180,000 suffering from diabetic retinopathy. Diabetics are classified as Type 1 (insulin dependant, usually juvenile onset) and Type II (non-insulin dependant, typically adult onset). After five to 15 years of having the disease, 50 percent of diabetics exhibit retinopathy and after 15 years this increases 80 to 100 percent. Since Type II diabetes frequently goes undiagnosed for years, we assume that these patients are in the higher risk group. Proper eye care dictates annual dilated eye exams for all Type II diabetics and exams after five years after diagnosis for Type 1 patients. The most important part of the exam is the pupil dilation to fully assess the internal health of the eye. Several studies have shown that exams without pupil dilation can miss or underestimate the extent of eye disease. Unfortunately, research indicates that less than half of all diagnosed diabetics are getting the annual dilated exams that they need. To curb the number to people who lose their sight to diabetes, we need to diagnose the disease sooner and then provide the necessary eye care in a timely fashion. Dr. Kirk and Dr. Crissman have joined an effort called Michigan Eyes on Diabetes. This statewide program funded in part by the National Eye Institute was initiated to raise awareness of the need for diabetic patients to receive annual dilated eye exams. If you have a family history of diabetes or symptoms such as constant hunger, thirst and frequent urination, you should consult your family doctor. Also if you experience large daily fluctuations in your vision, possibly from abnormal blood sugar levels, you should consult your eye doctor. If you are interested in learning more about the condition, go to http://michiganeyesondiabetes.net or contact the American Diabetes Association local chapter at 1-800-525-9292, for further information. |
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