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Vision Loss Can Be Prevented in People With Diabetes
Researchers on Verge of Developing New Pharmacological Treatments
The millions of Americans afflicted with Type 1 and 2 Diabetes face many potential complications, including: heart and kidney disease; nerve damage and stroke; foot and skin problems; and gastrointestinal disorders and hypoglycemia.
Another major complication, affecting up to 24,000 new people per year, is permanent blindness due to diabetic retinopathy, a degenerative disease of the retina (the sensitive area at the back of the eye). Overall, diabetic retinopathy affects 5.3 million Americans 18 and older.
But there's hope. In observance of Diabetic Eye Disease Awareness Month in November, the American Academy of Ophthalmology wants Americans to know that even though diabetes is the leading cause of new cases of blindness, vision loss can be prevented if the disease is diagnosed and treated in time.
"Only 50 to 60 percent of those with diabetes get the recommended yearly eye examinations," said Jose S. Pulido, MD, Academy clinical correspondent and professor of ophthalmology at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. "Studies show effective treatments, including an annual dilated eye exam, can reduce severe vision loss by up to 94 percent."
According to the American Diabetes Association, there are 20.8 million people in the United States, or 7 percent of the population, who have diabetes. While an estimated 14.6 million have been diagnosed, 6.2 million people (or nearly one-third) are unaware that they have the disease.
"This is a tragedy waiting to happen because people who are unaware they have the disease are at a substantially greater risk for vision loss and other complications," said Dr. Pulido. "The first step in preventing complications is finding out if you have the disease. It's important for all healthy adults over the age of 45 to have a blood sugar test once every three years."
Dr. Pulido said that the longer a person has diabetes, the greater the risk for developing diabetic retinopathy.
"Diabetic retinopathy does not only affect people who have had diabetes for many years, it can also appear within the first year or two after the onset of the disease," he said. "For some people, diabetic retinopathy is one of the first signs of the disease."
Anatomy of Diabetic Retinopathy
High blood sugar levels weaken blood vessels in the eye's retina, causing them to leak blood or fluid. This causes the retina to swell and can lead to vision loss.
Blood sugar fluctuations can also promote growth of new, fragile blood vessels on the retina, which can easily break and leak blood into the vitreous (the clear, jelly-like substance that fills the center of the eye). This can blur vision and lead to permanent blindness.
In its earliest stages diabetic retinopathy may not affect vision, but over time it can cause vision loss and even blindness in both eyes.
What are the Signs of Diabetic Retinopathy?
"Fluctuations in blood sugar levels can temporarily affect vision, so it's sometimes difficult to know if a serious eye problem is developing," said Dr. Pulido. "That's one of the reasons strict control of your blood sugar is so important. If you notice a vision change in one eye, a change that lasts more than a day or two, or changes not associated with fluctuations in blood sugar, contact your Eye M.D. immediately.".