Can You Prevent Vision Loss Due to Diabetes?

Many may not realize that vision loss can result from diabetes. That, paired with the fact that many cases of diabetes go undetected for several years, creates a big problem that affects over 7 million Americans.

November is National Diabetes Awareness month and Bonner Eye Clinic, along with eye doctors across the country, is joining the American Diabetic Association in raising awareness of the health problems, such as blindness, associated with diabetes.

Diabetic retinopathy, affecting over 40% of diabetic Americans, is a degenerative eye disease in which blood vessels of the retina swell, close off completely, or grow on the surface. Either of these cases can lead to vision loss and eventually blindness if preventative measures are not taken. The first step in preventing diabetic retinopathy is having your eye doctor do a dilated eye examination once each year to determine if treatment is needed. Although there is no cure for retinopathy, the treatments are very effective in slowly and even stopping vision loss. Other ways to prevent vision loss due to diabetes are by maintaining healthy levels of blood glucose, blood pressure, and cholesterol, as well as avoiding smoking and getting adequate exercise.

Join Bonner Eye Clinic and the American Diabetes Association in fighting against diabetic eye disease by scheduling you and your loved ones for yearly eye exams. If you have any questions about diabetic eye disease, please don’t hesitate to call us.