Diabetes & Blindness
Did you know that diabetes is the leading cause of new blindness for Americans under age 74? Diabetes is also the 6th leading cause of death in the U.S.
More than 19 million Americans have diabetes and 5 million don’t yet know they have the disease.

• Blurred vision
• Extreme hunger accompanied by weight loss
• Excessive thirst
• Frequent urination
• Fatigue
• Loss of feeling or tingles in the extremities (hands and feet)

• Frequent infections of the bladder, skin or gums
• Dry mouth
• Slow healing of cuts and scrapes
• Excessive or unusual infections

If you suspect you might have diabetes, please contact your family doctor as soon as possible. If you are diagnosed with diabetes, see an eye doctor for a yearly, dilated eye exam to prevent vision loss from diabetic retinopathy.

What is Diabetic Retinopathy?
Diabetes Can Affect Sight
If you have diabetes mellitus, your body does not use and store sugar properly. High blood-sugar levels can damage blood vessels in the retina, the nerve layer at the back of the eye that senses light and helps to send images to the brain. The damage to retinal vessels is referred to as background diabetic retinopathy (BDR).

HEALTHY RETINA
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How is diabetic retinopathy diagnosed?
A medical eye examination is the only way to detect changes inside your eye. An ophthalmologist or optometrist can often diagnose serious retinopathy before you are aware of any vision problems.

How is diabetic retinopathy treated?
The best treatment is to prevent the development of retinopathy as much as possible. Strict control of your blood sugar will significantly reduce the long-term risk of vision loss from diabetic retinopathy. If high blood pressure and kidney problems are present, they need to be treated.

Laser surgery: Laser surgery is often recommended for people with macular edema and severe diabetic retinopathy. This surgery is performed by an ophthalmologist.

Vision Loss Is Largely Preventable
If you have diabetes, it is important to know that today, with improved methods of diagnosis and treatment, only a small percentage of people who develop retinopathy have serious vision problems. Early detection of diabetic retinopathy is the best protection against loss of vision.
You can significantly lower your risk of vision loss by maintaining strict control of your blood sugar and visiting your eye doctor for regular dilated eye examinations.

When to Schedule an Examination
People with diabetes should schedule examinations at least once a year. More frequent medical eye examinations may be necessary after a diagnosis of diabetic retinopathy.
Pregnant women with diabetes should schedule an appointment in the first trimester because retinopathy can progress quickly during pregnancy.

If you need to be examined for eyeglasses, it is important that your blood sugar be consistently under control for several days when you see your eye doctor. Eyeglasses that work well when the blood sugar is out of control will not work well when the blood sugar is stable.

As we approach the end of 2005, Eye Care Oklahoma wants to remind you that your flex spending plan can be used on eyeglasses, contact lenses, and LASIK.

Have you been interested in trying contact lenses, but unsure if you can? Most people can successfully wear contact lenses at least part-time with all the new advancements. Don’t hesitate to call our office and schedule a contact lens evaluation to determine if you are a candidate.

Considering LASIK? We perform free LASIK screenings to determine if you are a candidate for laser vision correction. Call our office today to schedule a screening.