Both Type 1 and 2 diabetes are on the rise nationally, and in Minnesota, one in four either have diabetes or are at risk of developing it, compared to one in five in 2006. According to the Minnesota Department of Health, diabetes is the leading cause of blindness among Minnesotans age 20-74. Between 500 and 800 Minnesotans become blind annually due to complications of this disease.
Diabetic retinopathy is the most common eye disease associated with diabetes. According to the Minnesota Optometric Association (MOA), early treatment of retinopathy reduces the incidence of severe vision loss by 50-60 percent.
“November is Diabetes Month, a good time to raise awareness of diabetes-related eye heath,” said Dr. Tina McCarty, President of the Minnesota Optometric Association (MOA) Board of Trustees, and an optometrist practicing at the Eye Care Center, with offices in Fridley and Maplewood, Minnesota. “Diabetes can be managed through an integrated health management program that includes comprehensive eye exams annually. People may not realize that diabetes can also cause vision changes that require regular exams,” Dr. McCarty added.
An estimated 60 percent of those with Type 1 diabetes for 10 years will have some signs of retinopathy, and after 15 years, virtually all Type 1 diabetic patients will have retinopathy. The first stages of retinopathy may not be discernable to the patient, but early detection and treatment is vital to prevent vision loss. Cataracts and glaucoma are also more common among diabetics.
Diabetic retinopathy is caused by changes in the blood vessels of the retina. In some people with diabetic retinopathy, retinal blood vessels may swell and leak fluid; in others, abnormal new blood vessels grow on the surface of the retina. These changes may result in vision loss or blindness.
Diabetic retinopathy also should be managed by taking prescribed medications as instructed, staying with a healthy diet, exercising regularly, controlling high blood pressure and blood sugars and avoiding alcohol and smoking.
The Minnesota Optometric Association (MOA) recommends you see your family eye doctor right way if you have any of the following problems:
– Your vision is blurry
– You see double, spots or floaters
– One or both eyes hurt
– You feel pressure in your eye
– You can’t see things at the periphery as well as before
– You have trouble reading
The Minnesota Optometric Association has 525 member doctors of optometry around the state. The MOA is committed to furthering awareness of optometrists as primary eye care or family eye doctors and to bringing about change that positively impacts the MOA member doctors and their patients.
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