Front page | Health and fitness | Sports | Internet guide | E-mail the Herald
Diabetics Must Protect Against Vision Loss | |
By DR. CAROL M. LEE Too many of America's 12 million diabetics are neglecting the precautions needed to protect against the vision-robbing condition called diabetic retinopathy. These precautions are especially urgent for persons with juvenile-onset diabetes. They are at greatest risk of retinopathy. But the precautions are also important for those with adult-onset diabetes. Undetected and untreated diabetic retinopathy can cause severe loss of vision, even blindness. Fortunately, ophthalmologists have a number of tools that help preserve vision for diabetics. The first step toward vision preservation is to see an ophthalmologist as soon as diabetes is diagnosed in adult-onset cases, and within five years of diagnosis in juvenile-onset cases. Diabetes-caused eye damage can be well advanced without any obvious visual symptoms. At the first eye examination, the ophthalmologist will look for signs of damage such as changes in the blood vessels of the retina-hemorrhages, edema, aneurysms, growth of new blood vessels. Generally, eye drops are used to give the physician a better view of the retina. Sometimes photographs will be taken to help in the assessment. What happens then depends on the specific condition of an individual. Some diabetics will be told that they can wait a year before the next eye examination. Others will be told to return in a few months. Diabetic women who become pregnant should have their eyes checked by an ophthalmologist every trimester. All diabetics will be advised that tight blood sugar control is essential to help preserve vision. Good control of blood pressure and of blood levels of fats and cholesterol are also important, but blood sugar control is the cornerstone of diabetic retinopathy control. Treatments for advanced diabetic retinopathy can include laser therapy to seal leaky retinal blood vessels or prevent development of new vessels. A number of studies have shown that laser therapy can prevent loss of vision. In severe cases, surgery called vitrectomy may be performed to remove overgrown blood vessels and scar tissue caused by retinopathy. Researchers are working with blood vessel growth factors for treatment of diabetic retinopathy, but that approach is still experimental. The American Academy of Ophthalmology has an educational program, Diabetes 2000, whose goal is to eliminate preventable blindness from diabetes by the end of the century. That goal can be achieved only if diabetics follow the basic, essential rules - starting with necessary eye examinations. --- Dr. Carol M. Lee is Clinical Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology at New York University School of Medicine. Copyright 1996 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. | |