Diabetes is one of the most common medical conditions that affects vision. The American Diabetes Association reports that each year, 1.7 million Americans are diagnosed with diabetes. At Park Ophthalmology, Dr. Beth R. Friedland works to educate her Triangle area patients about what they can do to maintain eye health while living with diabetes. Diabetic adults should maintain regular check-ups with Dr. Friedland and an eye care professional on a schedule determined by these professionals.
Patients diagnosed with diabetes or at risk of diabetes should become familiar with the following four bullets of information from Park Ophthalmology:
- Exam recommendations: The American Diabetes Association recommends that adults with type 1 diabetes get a complete eye exam within five year of diagnosis, and those with type 2 be examined soon after diagnosis. Diabetics who are pregnant or planning to become pregnant also need exams.
- Blurred vision: Diabetes can cause temporary blurred vision. This happens when blood sugar rises out of the target range and causes the eyes’ lenses to swell, resulting in blurred vision. If blurriness continues after sugar levels have fallen, it is time to check with the doctor.
- Diabetic retinopathy: This is the most common eye disease for diabetics and a major cause of blindness in American adults. The National Eye Institute explains that diabetic retinopathy changes the blood vessels in the retina. Vessels may swell, leak fluid or grow abnormally. All of these changes will impair vision.
- Cataracts and glaucoma: Diabetics are at greater risk for developing cataracts and glaucoma. Cataracts cloud the eyes’ lenses and diabetics develop them at younger ages than those without the disease. Glaucoma is an increase of fluid pressure in the eye that creates damage to the optic nerve. Diabetes nearly doubles the risk of developing glaucoma. Treatments exist for both conditions.
Diabetes does not always complicate or compromise vison. Individuals who keep this disease under control and maintain contact with Dr. Friedland have the best chances of maintaining eye health. It can be unsettling when one is diagnosed with diabetes, but Park Ophthalmology can help with those concerns. Contact our Raleigh or Durham offices to schedule an appointment.
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Park Ophthalmology welcomes patients from all areas of the Triangle and offers a wide variety of specialized services including surgery for diseases of the eye, vision examinations, eye safety information, sports medicine protective eyewear and counseling, contact lenses and evaluation, and all types of ocular diagnosis and treatment. Many types of surgery are available, including cataract and laser surgery. We are here for you and your eye and overall health. Give us a call today!
This article about the vision care is brought to you by the professional team at Park Ophthalmology located in the Triangle Region of North Carolina.
The information contained in this blog article is intended solely for informational purposes and is not intended to be offered as medical advice.
Locations:
5306 NC Highway 55, Suite 102 (adjacent to the RTP/ Research Triangle Park)
Durham, NC 27713
Office: 919 544 5375
Fax: 919 544 5829
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Park Ophthalmology North
6512 Six Forks Road, Suite 105
Raleigh, NC 27615
919 846 6915
Office Manager Jenny Whitman, e-mail: parkeyemd@gmail.com.
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