Last Updated on November 29, 2024 by Aaron Barriga
Why is Diabetes Awareness Necessary?
Did you know diabetes is one of the leading causes of disability and death in the United States? According to the 2017 Diabetes Statistics Report released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there are about 30.3 million people with diabetes which equals almost 9.4% of the US population. The numbers for pre-diabetes indicate that 84.1 million adults (33.9% of the adult U.S. population) have pre-diabetes, including 23.1 million adults aged 65 years or older.
Why Is It So Important To Detect Diabetes Early?
It is important to treat diabetes as soon as possible because if it is left untreated, diabetes can result in a host of other problems, one of those being permanent blindness. It increases the risk of contracting other eye diseases like diabetic retinopathy and glaucoma as well. When detected in time, with the help of appropriate treatment and care, the risk of vision loss and other related diseases can be reduced by almost 95%.
Why Eye Exams Are Important For People Suffering from Diabetes?
Many times, underlying health conditions are often detected through eye exams, thus making regular eye exams extremely important. One of the most common misconceptions about eye exams is that your eye doctor is only testing your sight. However, that isn’t always the case. An eye exam allows the doctor to assess your eyes and identify irregularities. If you are diagnosed with diabetes, it becomes all the more important to get routine eye exams as it can reduce your chances of facing vision-related problems in the future.
What Type of Eye Exam Should I Undergo?
You must get a comprehensive eye exam, where the doctor not only tests your sight but also checks your eyes for abnormalities such as retina fluid or blood drops. This type of eye exam is done using a high-powered microscope to examine the tiny structures inside your eyes, which also includes a closer look at your blood vessels, optic nerves, and other complex eye structures to check for damage due to diseases like diabetes. By analyzing these sections of your eye, your eye doctor will then be able to gauge the overall health of your eyes and provide additional consultation options depending on the results.
How often should I have my eyes examined?
While it is advisable to get your eyes checked every two years, you may need to increase the frequency depending on your personal medical history. For instance, people over 40 are particularly susceptible to developing eye conditions such as glaucoma. Apart from regular eye check-ups, you must also make it a point to visit your eye doctor if you face any vision-related problems.
Take Action Now
So, this November, as a part of National Diabetes Month, the eye doctors at Insight Vision Center in Fresno, California urge you to pledge to get regular eye exams and encourage your friends and families as well, so we can all work together and help raise awareness against diabetes. By encouraging people to get regular eye exams, not only will you help them protect their vision, but also help increase awareness about the disease and its impact.
If you want to schedule a comprehensive eye check-up for you and your family, simply call us at +559-449- 5050 to book an appointment right away!
Aaron Barriga is the online marketing manager for Insight Vision Center. With a knack for understanding medical procedures, and an interest in eye and vision health, Aaron loves to share what he knows and what he learns. He blogs to inform readers about the latest eye care technology and other topics related to eye care, especially LASIK.
