Issue 8.13
Do you have diabetes? If you do, you are not alone. It is estimated that among U.S. residents ages 65 years and older, 10.9 million, or 26.9%, had diabetes in 2010. Among ages 20 and older, 25.6 million, or 11.3 % have diabetes. Furthermore, it is also estimated that 79 million Americans ages 20 years or older have borderline, or pre-diabetes.
Diabetes is the leading cause of new cases of blindness among adults ages 20-74 years of age due to a condition known as diabetic retinopathy. Over time, diabetes can cause changes to occur in the arterioles (small arteries) of the eye. The arterioles in the retina may become damaged, and leaky. This will cause swelling and hypoxia (lack of oxygen) in the retina and subsequent damage. If enough of this type of deterioration continues, vision can be altered, damaged, and possibly lost. These types of changes can be readily seen by your eye doctor (i.e.: optometrist or ophthalmologist) during a dilated eye examination. It may be difficult if not impossible for early changes to be seen at home, as vision is often unaltered in the early stages of retinopathy. It is very common to see visual disturbances only after significant changes in the retina have occurred. In 2005-2008 4.2 million (28.5 percent) people with diabetes ages 40 years or older had diabetic retinopathy.
Early detection is the key to prevent vision loss. With early detection, your eyecare professional can help small problems stay small, and usually not affect vision. Once diabetic retinopathy is diagnosed, and if it needs treatment, there are many options available to help control, and in many cases reverse the damage. These treatments may include topical medicated eye drops, injectable medications into the eye, laser treatments, along with blood sugar control, diet and exercise.
Other related complications from diabetes include cataracts, glaucoma, and transient blurry vision.
The prevalence of diabetes is on the rise. If you have been diagnosed with diabetes, or pre diabetes, please see your eye care professional for a dilated eye exam.
Dr. Gibb can be contacted at Richens Eye Center, 435-986-2020.