November is Diabetic Eye Disease Month

Posted by admin on November 3, 2017

Diabetes is a disease that affects far more than just your kidneys. It can also cause serious repercussions to your vision. That’s why the month of November is dedicated to raising the awareness of diabetic eye diseases

Here are some of the harmful eye diseases that can occur as a result of diabetes:

• Diabetic retinopathy. Damage to the blood vessels of the retina can affect both eyes and cause permanent vision loss.
• Glaucoma. Glaucoma is the increase of fluid pressure inside the eye, leading to optic nerve damage and resulting in vision loss. A person with diabetes is twice as likely to develop glaucoma.
• Cataracts. A diabetic patient is at risk for developing cataracts (clouding of the eye lens) at a much younger age.

Another thing you may not know is that your eye doctor is able to monitor and treat your diabetic eye diseases and will be an essential part of your professional care team if you are diagnosed with diabetes (optometrists sometimes even help detect diabetes before other professionals through routine eye exams). So be sure you’re coming in for your annual eye exam and getting the eye care you need to prevent and treat diabetic eye diseases. Read on to learn more about how your eye doctor and eye care fit into your diabetic care team!

Leading Cause of Blindness

You probably associate diabetes with monitoring your blood sugar and diet and taking insulin shots. But did you know that diabetes is also the leading cause behind new cases of blindness in adults? According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, every 15 minutes there is someone with diabetes who loses their vision.

Diabetes is a serious disease that requires consistent treatment and vigilant monitoring by someone who has diabetes and their team of health professionals. In fact, 8 percent of the entire U.S. population is afflicted with this disease—that’s nearly 24 million people.

Early Discovery During an Eye Exam Can Prevent Blindness

For those who don’t have the disease, your eye doctor can detect the symptoms of diabetes during a comprehensive eye exam. This is just another reason why it’s important to regularly schedule your eye exams and maintain yearly eye exams thereafter. With early discovery through proper eye care, your optometrist can help treat and prevent any blindness due to the disease.

Please give EyeTech Optometry a call at 970-262-9272 or visit our website to schedule an appointment today! Diabetes is just one disorder our eye doctors are able to detect and help treat. During your eye exam, we’ll also look for key signs of other conditions to make sure your overall health remains top notch, and coordinate care with your primary care doctor to ensure your diabetes is manage in the best way possible!