What Do Winter Holidays and American Diabetes Month Have in Common? All Are Reminders to See Your Eye Doc

The holiday season is in full swing, and though many people dutifully watch their waistlines this time of year, others see it as an opportunity to overindulge without guilt. Setting guilt aside, as more and more Americans are categorized as obese, greater numbers are being diagnosed with diabetes.

It’s appropriate, then, that November is American Diabetes Month. This month, the American Diabetes Association has sought to raise awareness of the disease. One of the risks of diabetes is retinal damage caused by excessive pressure in the blood vessels of the eye, a disease called diabetic retinopathy. It is the leading cause of blindness in adults in the United States.

At its onset, diabetic retinopathy often is asymptomatic, and it’s not until the blood vessels in the retina actually begin to leak that patients notice vision problems. Therefore, it is crucial to see your optometrist each year for a comprehensive eye exam if you have diabetes.

Patients with diabetes can also develop other eye diseases, such as cataracts, glaucoma, retinal detachment, and blurred vision. Early detection of diabetes-related eye problems, via a dilated eye exam, could be the key to preventing vision loss or even blindness. While your eyes are dilated, I can examine and create a detailed, photographic record of the blood vessels in your eye, checking for swelling or signs of damage over time.

In addition to getting a comprehensive dilated eye examination at least once a year, it is recommended that people with diabetes make the following New Year’s resolutions:

• Control your blood sugar, as high blood sugar affects the shape of the eye’s lens resulting in temporarily blurred vision. High blood sugar can also damage the blood vessels in the eye.
• Maintain healthy blood pressure and cholesterol levels. Keeping both under control helps your eyes and overall health.

• Quit smoking. Smoking increases the risk for a whole host of eye problems.

• Start exercising. Generally, what’s good for the heart is good for the eyes. And regular exercise helps control diabetes.

For more information on the relation between diabetes and your vision and eye health, visit the American Diabetes Association’s Living With Diabetes page.

Dr. Jeff Pinkerton
iCare for you.