Diabetes and Vision

Diabetes has serious effects on eye health, and rates of the disease are rising rapidly around the globe - in 2007 approximately 246 million people worldwide had the disease, and the International Diabetes Foundation estimates that number will jumpt to 324 million by 2025.

To make matters worse, there is a disturbing lack of awareness of the impact diabetes has on eye health and vision: In Transistions Optical's second annual Healthy Sight Survey, between one-third and two-thirds of respondents didn't identify vision problems as a side effect of diabetes.

Ocular Effects

Diabetes can lead to the development of eye diseases, including cataracts, diabetic retinopathy, age-related macular degeneration (AMD), and glaucoma.

Diabetic retinopathy may also lead to retinal cell phototoxicity, which is an extreme adverse reaction to UV light. In the U.S., 40.3 percent of diabetics over age 40 have diabetic retinopathy, and 8.2 percent have vision-threatening retinopathy.

In addition, diabetic retinopathy and cataracts have been associated with reduced contrast sensitivity and also increased susceptibility to glare.

If you are diabetic, it is crucial to have frequent dilated eye exams to monitor and prevent vision loss. If you have sudden vision changes, contact your eye care provider.

Are You Protecting Your Eyes?

A new survey conducted by the New England Eye Institute (Boston) and Transitions Optical (Pinellas Park, Fla.) has found that only 5% of consumers are aware that ultraviolet (UV) exposure can cause damage to their eyes, the two organizations reported jointly in a press release. The study also found that more than half (57%) of respondents said they do not wear protective eyewear when in the sun for extended periods. Those surveyed said they spend about 3.5 hours outdoors daily, which represents an average of 1,000 of unprotected UV exposure per year. A total of 80% of respondents were aware of the risk of skin cancer associated with UV exposure, the organizations said.

In an earlier post (Beyond Fashion, Why You Gotta Wear Shades) we gave more information regarding UV protection. Sun damage is serious and preventable. There is no such thing as overprotecting your eyes!