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1. During November's American Diabetes Month,
the American Academy of Ophthalmology and Eye M.D.s want to
remind everyone with diabetes to protect their vision by having
a yearly dilated eye exam.
- Diabetic eye problems are among the most
common complications facing people with diabetes.
- Diabetic retinopathy is the leading cause
of blindness among working-age Americans.
- Your risk of developing diabetic retinopathy
increases with the number of years you've had diabetes.
After 15 years with the disease, almost 80% of people with
Type 1 diabetes have some form of diabetic eye disease.
2. Yearly dilated eye exams are crucial for protecting vision
in people with diabetes.
- Early detection and treatment of diabetic
retinopathy can usually prevent permanent vision loss.
- Pregnant women with diabetes should have
an eye exam in the first trimester because diabetic eye
disease can progress rapidly during pregnancy.
- Call your Eye M.D. if you have diabetes and
you notice vision changes that affect only one eye or last
more than a few days.
3. Keeping your blood sugar under good control decreases your
risk of many complications of diabetes, including eye disease.
- High blood sugar can damage the blood vessels
in the retina, which can lead to vision damage from diabetic
eye disease.
- Rapid changes in blood sugar can cause temporary
changes in vision, even if diabetic eye disease isn't present.
- It's especially important to keep blood
sugar in good control for a few days before being examined
for glasses because your blood sugar levels can affect your
vision and you may end up with corrective lenses that don't
work for you later. Good control of your blood sugar can
help ensure you get the right prescription.
For written information or questions, individuals can contact
Michigan Eye Care Specialists in East Lansing, 332-6523 or
visit myeyecarecenter.com on the
internet.
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