Diabetic Eye Disease & Problems
Diabetes, diabetic eye disease and especially the eye health and vision problems caused by diabetic retinopathy continue to affect millions of people just like you. According to the Centers for Disease Control, diabetes affects more than 25 million people in the United States. Diabetes is the leading cause of new cases of blindness in adults 20-74 years of age and although there is no cure for diabetic eye disease, annual eye exams and timely treatment for diabetes patients are essential steps that can help slow the progression of the disease.
About Diabetic Retinopathy
The vision loss from diabetic retinopathy can be prevented if it's caught early and treated in time. More than one third of those diagnosed with diabetes do not adhere to vision care guidelines recommending a dilated eye exam every year. As part of Diabetic Eye Disease Awareness Month we are urging people with diabetes to have a dilated eye exam every year. The longer a person has diabetes, the greater his or her risk for developing diabetic retinopathy. However, 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.
Reducing Your Risk of Diabetic Eye Disease
In addition to having regular eye examinations and the necessary level of eye testing at the direction of your eye doctor, patients can help to reduce the risk of developing diabetic eye disease by not smoking, controlling their cholesterol, lipid profile and blood pressure and restricting their alcohol consumptions as well as working to eat a heart-healthy diet rich in fish, fruit and green leafy vegetables and exercising.
If you or someone you know has diabetes or even elevated blood sugar levels they should work to prevent diabetic eye disease and problems with regular eye exams by calling Doctor & Associates-203-227-4113, visit Doctor & Associates in Fairfield County Google+ or facebook.com/doctorandassociates to schedule an appointment.
Doctor & Associates offices are located at 129 Kings Highway North, Westport, Connecticut 06880, 195 Danbury Road, Wilton, Connecticut 06897 and 148 East Avenue, Norwalk, Connecticut 06851.
