People
with Diabetes need more than sunglasses to
protect eyes
Newswise — The crack of the bat on Opening Day at Fenway Park
is a sure sign that summer is on its way. From
the Green Monster seats to the dunes of Cape
Cod, summer means bright sun, ultraviolet rays
and of course, sunglasses.
But did you know that people with diabetes need more than
sunglasses to protect their eyes?
Diabetes puts people at risk for cataracts, glaucoma and
diabetic retinopathy, a leading cause of vision
loss. But in the majority of cases, vision can
be preserved if the disease is caught early and
treated.
The experts at Joslin Diabetes Center’s Beetham Eye Institute
offer these quick reminders to help keep your
eyes in great shape not only in the summer but
also all through the year:
*Diabetic eye disease can have no pain or other symptoms
until it reaches very advanced stages, and the
earlier you can catch it, the more likely you
can preserve your sight.
*You can have perfect vision and still have
diabetic eye disease.
*An annual dilated eye exam can identify early
eye complications and is important even if you
don’t have diabetic eye disease.
*If your doctor finds signs of diabetic eye
disease, a number of treatments may be
recommended, including laser eye surgery,
contact lenses, glasses and medications.
*Keeping your A1C (average monthly blood glucose
levels) on target, controlling blood pressure
and quitting smoking also can help preserve
vision and prevent vision loss.
Joslin Diabetes Center
has been on the cutting edge of
diabetes-related eye disease prevention and
care since its inception and has set
standards across the world for the treatment
and care of people with diabetes. With more
than 360,000 people in Massachusetts
diagnosed with diabetes, and thousands more
having the disease and not knowing it, there
is great risk of vision loss due to diabetic
retinopathy.
Comprehensive eye exams on an annual basis,
proper management and care of your health, and
of course, your favorite pair of sunglasses are
all key to seeing your eyes in a new light. For
an appointment at Joslin’s Beetham Eye
Institute, call (617) 732-2552. For more
information on Joslin, visit
http://www.joslin.org.
