The eyes provide a window to the diabetes diagnosis
Protect your vision and schedule a comprehensive eye examination with a licensed eye doctor
Diabetes has a significant impact on an individual’s overall health, and the economic costs the disease places on the nation are substantial. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) most current National Diabetes Report (https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/ data/statistics-report/index.html), diabetes affects over 34 million Americans (10.5% of the population), with 88 million more Americans having prediabetes which of course places them at a high risk for developing the disease. While 23.1 million of these cases are diagnosed, 7.2 million, or 23.8% of people with diabetes, remain undiagnosed. The total cost of diabetes in terms of medical care and lost productivity is $245 billion nationwide.
While many know diabetes is both a prevalent and damaging disease, they may not be aware of the important role eye doctors play in the diagnosis and care of the diabetic patient. The members of the Wisconsin Optometric Association (WOA) encourage all citizens to visit their eye doctor for a yearly, comprehensive eye exam to ensure the early detection of diabetes and prevention of complications from this ubiquitous disease.
WOA President and Mauston, WI area optometrist Dr. Christine Renner explains, “A comprehensive dilated eye examination is crucial to the early detection and prevention of diabetes-related complications.” As Dr. Renner clarifies, “The eye is the only place on the body that blood vessels can be seen without having to look through skin or tissue. As a result, optometrists can detect many diseases that affect our blood vessels, such as diabetes, which allows patients to seek treatment before they progress to something more serious.”
If left untreated, diabetes can have incredibly damaging effects on an individual’s vision and eye health. “We are seeing a growing number of diabetes cases among people who, for one reason or another, do not actively monitor their diabetes risk,” professes Dr. Renner. “It’s simple; the longer the condition progresses before it is diagnosed, the higher the likelihood the patient could experience serious vision and eye health complications.”
According to the American Optometric Association, diabetes is the leading cause of vision loss among American adults under the age of 74. This is due to a complication known as diabetic retinopathy, which is a serious sight-threatening complication of diabetes. Diabetic retinopathy is the result of damage to the small blood vessels located in the retina (the light-reflecting tissue in the eye) caused by diabetes. The blood vessels leak blood and other fluids, causing swelling of the retinal tissue and clouded vision. Symptoms of diabetic retinopathy may include blurring of vision, night vision problems, spots/ floaters seen by one or both eyes, and having a dark or empty spot in the center of your vision.
