Diabetic Eye Disease Still a Problem

As Prevent Blindness America has designated November as National Diabetic Eye Disease Awareness Month, it is time to remind people that diabetic eye disease and eye problems from diabetes area still on the rise in the U.S. and require attention to prevent vision loss and even blindness. According to the Centers for Disease Control, diabetes affects more than 25 million people in the United States. There are some 8 million people ages 40 and older who have diabetic retinopathy and in fact diabetes is the leading cause of new cases of blindness in adults 20-74 years of age.

The vision loss from diabetic retinopathy can be prevented if it's caught early and treated in time. More than one third of those diagnosed with diabetes do not adhere to vision care guidelines recommending a dilated eye exam every year. As part of Diabetic Eye Disease Awareness Month we are urging people with diabetes to have a dilated eye exam every year. The longer a person has diabetes, the greater his or her risk for developing diabetic retinopathy. However, diabetic retinopathy does not only affect people who have had diabetes for many years, it can also appear within the first year or two after the onset of the disease.

Preventing Vision Loss from Diabetes
In addition to having regular eye exams and testing at the direction of your eye doctor, patients can help to reduce the risk of developing diabetic eye disease by not smoking, controlling their cholesterol and lipid profile and blood pressure, as well as working to eat a heart-healthy diet rich in fish, fruit and green leafy vegetables and exercising.

If you or someone you know has diabetes or even elevated blood sugar levels they should work to prevent diabetic eye disease and problems by having regular eye exams at Northwest Indiana Eye & Laser Center. To schedule an appointment call us at 219-464-8223, or visit Northwest Indiana Eye & Laser Center, Google+ or facebook.com/nwindianaeyeandlaser.

Northwest Indiana Eye & Laser Center offices are located at 502 Marquette Street, Valparaiso, Indiana 46383 and 1001 South Edgewood Drive, Knox, Indiana 46354.