Raising Awareness: Diabetic Eye Health
Posted Wednesday, November 20, 2019Did You Know? Diabetes is the leading cause of new cases of blindness in adults
Protect Your Vision
“The number of diabetes cases continues to rise, and the condition is hitting people at a much younger age than ever before, which means more cases of permanent vision loss to millions across the country.” – Jeff Todd, President & CEO of Prevent Blindness
01 | Raising Awareness
People with diabetes are at a higher risk of developing blinding eye diseases, including diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma and cataracts. Recent studies reveal a lack of awareness of this issue. The month of November is dedicated to raising awareness on the correlation between diabetes and eye disease, along with providing education on prevention, symptoms and treatment.
02 | Prevention
Here are five steps to help prevent diabetic eye disease:
- Get a comprehensive eye exam from an ophthalmologist at least once each year
- Control your blood sugar levels
- Maintain healthy blood pressure and cholesterol levels
- Avoid smoking
- Stay active
03 | Treating Diabetic Eye Disease
Depending on the type and severity of the condition, many treatment options are available to manage diabetic eye disease.
- Macular Edema can be managed with laser treatment, injections and intravitreal steroids
- Retinal Detachment – many diabetic tractional retinal detachments develop slowly. The goal of treatment is to repair the retina before the macula detaches. A surgical procedure can be performed to remove vitreous gel and blood, and treat the retina with laser, repair tears and remove scar tissue.
Learn More
Click here to learn more about Diabetic Eye Disease Awareness Month.
References
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/diabetic-retinopathy/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20371617
https://www.aao.org/eye-health/tips-prevention/top-five-diabetes-steps
2026