Things happen: appointments are forgotten, other health issues crop up, financial problems happen. But missing eye exams may be vision-threatening for patients with diabetes. Hecker Eye Care Associates joins the American Academy of Ophthalmology in reiterating the importance of eye exams for people with diabetes.
Diabetes is the leading cause of preventable blindness in the United States among adults age 20 to 74 and is the fifth most common cause of preventable blindness globally. Among the 30 million Americans with diabetes, about one-third have diabetic retinopathy, the potentially blinding complication of diabetes.
People typically don't notice changes in their vision in the disease's early stages. But as it progresses, diabetic retinopathy usually causes vision loss that in many cases cannot be reversed. That’s why it’s so important that everyone with diabetes have yearly exams for early detection.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) consistently reports that less than two-thirds of people with diabetes undergo their recommended annual dilated ophthalmic examination. These rates are even lower among children and adolescents with diabetes, with less than half of youth with type 2 diabetes receiving an examination within six years of diagnosis.
The professionals at Hecker Eye Care Associates can perform a thorough eye exam and send a report to your Primary Care Provider. Don’t hesitate to make an appointment with us if you have diabetes and are in need of an eye exam.
Hecker Eye Care Associates wishes to thank the American Academy of Ophthalmology for their assistance with the contents of this article. To learn more ways to keep your eyes healthy, visit the American Academy of Ophthalmology’s EyeSmart® website.