Diabetes and Eyes, What Your Vision is Trying to Tell You

Posted: Friday, February 22, 2013 9:33 am | Updated: 2:32 am, Sat Feb 23, 2013.

Diabetes and Eyes, What Your Vision is Trying to Tell You NewsUSA@NewsUSA.com (NewsUSA) sedaliademocrat.com

(NewsUSA) - Diabetes is a serious disease that can affect many aspects of the body -- the heart and kidneys, blood circulation and even the eyes. In fact, diabetic eye disease increased in prevalence by 89 percent between 2000 and 2010 and is a leading cause of blindness among American adults. Despite this, vision care is often overlooked by people with diabetes as they work to manage the many other health problems the disease can cause.

According to a survey by the American Optometric Association, 55 percent of people are unaware that diabetic eye disease often has no visual signs or symptoms. Additionally, 44 percent of Americans don't know that a person with diabetes should have a comprehensive eye exam once a year, including a retina (dilated) eye exam. Yet, these exams are the only way to diagnose serious eye diseases associated with diabetes at its early stage. Regular retina eye exams are critical for early detection and treatment of these progressive eye diseases that often begin without warning.