Diabetes: A Top Cause Of Blindness Among Adults
According to the AOA's 2007 American Eye-Q® survey, more than 60 percent of adults know that diabetes is detectable through a comprehensive eye exam. However, only 32 percent of adults who do not wear glasses or contacts, have seen a doctor of optometry in the past two years. The annual American Eye-Q® survey identifies attitudes and behaviors of Americans regarding eye care and related issues.
With nearly two-thirds of adults not receiving regular, comprehensive eye exams, millions of Americans are not only putting their vision, but also their health, at risk. In fact, diabetes is a top cause of new cases of blindness among adults.
"More than 21 million Americans have diabetes, and perhaps of even greater concern, more than 6 million Americans are unaware that they have the disease," said Dr. Jorge Cuadros, AOA's Diabetes Eye Care Expert and University of California School of Optometry professor. "In addition to overall health complications, diabetes can cause vision changes and ultimately lead to blindness."
Optometrists can serve as the first line of detection for diabetes, since the eye is the only place on the body that blood vessels can be seen without having to look through the skin. All individuals with known diabetes need to have dilated eye exams each year; despite the fact that only four out of ten Americans recognize that diabetic patients should have their vision checked annually, according to the 2007 American Eye-Q®.
"It is especially important for individuals who are at high risk for diabetes to visit an eye doctor regularly for dilated eye exams," said Dr. Cuadros.
According to the American Diabetes Association, an estimated 54 million Americans aged 40 to 74 (40.1 percent of the U.S. population in this age group) have pre-diabetes, a condition that puts them at high risk for developing type 2 diabetes.
Early detection is critical in maintaining healthy vision. Additionally, several factors influence whether someone with diabetes develops diabetic retinopathy. These include controlling blood sugar control and blood pressure levels, the length of time with diabetes, race and family history.
Be sure to see an optometrist if your vision becomes blurry; you have trouble reading signs or books; experience double vision; feel pressure in your eyes; encounter straight lines appearing indistinct; or your side vision is limited.
To find an optometrist in your area, or for additional information on eye health, specifically diabetic retinopathy, please visit http://www.aoa.org.
About the American Optometric Association (AOA)
The American Optometric Association represents more than 34,000 doctors of optometry, optometry students and paraoptometric assistants and technicians. Optometrists serve patients in nearly 6,500 communities across the country, and in 3,500 of those communities are the only eye doctors.
American Optometric Association doctors of optometry are highly qualified, trained doctors on the frontline of eye and vision care who examine, diagnose, treat and manage diseases and disorders of the eye. In addition to providing eye and vision care, optometrists play a major role in a patient's overall health and well-being by detecting systemic diseases such as diabetes and hypertension. Doctors of optometry have the skills and training to provide more than two-thirds of all primary eye care in the United States.
Prior to optometry school, optometrists undergo three to four years of undergraduate study that typically culminates in a Bachelor of Science degree in a field such as biology or chemistry.
Optometry school consists of four years of post-graduate, doctoral study concentrating on both the eye and systemic health. In addition to their formal training, doctors of optometry must undergo annual continuing education to stay current on the latest standards of care. For more information, visit http://www.aoa.org.
Diabet zaharat: A Top cauza de orbire în rândul adulþilor - Diabetes: A Top Cause Of Blindness Among Adults - articole medicale engleza - startsanatate