Diabetic Eye Disease Month

Today more than 8 million Americans are at risk for vision loss because they don't know they have diabetes. For some people, the degenerative disease retinopathy is the first sign they have diabetes. While diabetic retinopathy is the leading cause of blindness among working-age Americans, most eye care professionals believe the loss of vision associated with diabetic retinopathy may be prevented if treated in time.

November is American Diabetes Month and the professional members of the American Academy of Ophthalmology are urging Americans who are diabetic to have a yearly dilated eye exam.

For some people, the appearance of retinopathy is one of the first signs that they have diabetes. Studies indicate that half of people with diabetes age 65 and older visit their ophthalmologists annually, and only 67 percent schedule appointments every two years. The longer a person has diabetes the greater the risk for developing diabetic retinopathy.

High blood sugar levels can weaken blood vessels in the eye's retina, which can leak blood or fluid. This causes the retina to swell and form deposits that can lead to vision loss. Blood sugar fluctuations can also promote growth of new, fragile blood vessels on the retina, which can break easily and leak blood into the vitreous (the clear, jelly-like substance that fills the center of the eye.) This can also blur vision and lead to permanent impairment.

If you're diagnosed with diabetes, schedule eye exams once a year, or as often as your eye MD suggests, and keep your blood sugar under good control through diet and exercise.