Information about Diabetes: Diabetic Retinopathy Increasing
May 16, 2001
Diabetic retinopathy, a condition that can cause blindness, is on the rise. This may be because many diabetics do not get the proper treatment for their illness and need more education about the possible damage that diabetes can do to the eyes. Diabetic retinopathy is caused when high sugar levels damage the blood vessels in the retina. It is easy to determine if a diabetic has this condition by conducting a dilated eye exam. Unfortunately, in a survey of 2,308 diabetic patients, over one-third had not had a dilated eye exam in the past year. "Without dilating the eye, it's like looking inside a room through a keyhole instead of an open door. This suggests a missed opportunity to supply comprehensive vision care to persons with diabetes and highlights a potential weakness in the current healthcare system," stated Dr. George Blankenship. Blankenship is the president of the American Academy of Ophthalmology.
A study revealed that people suffering from type 1 diabetes were much more likely to visit an ophthalmologist and get yearly dilated pupil exams than those diagnosed with other forms of diabetes. This means that many diabetics are still not getting the information and treatment necessary to prevent diabetic retinopathy.
-- Article Courtesy of InjuryBoard.com
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