DIABETES-RELATED EYE DISEASE NEEDS TO BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY

Because diabetes can cause blindness, people with diabetes need to give special attention to their eyes and vision.

Nearly half of all people with diabetes will develop some degree of diabetic eye disease. The most common is diabetic retinopathy, caused by changes in the blood vessels in the retina, the nerve-rich lining at the back of the eye that is essential for seeing. But diabetes can also contribute to glaucoma and cataracts.

Each year approximately 25,000 people lose their sight to diabetic eye disease, making diabetes a leading cause of new cases of blindness in adults 25-74 years old, according to the American Diabetes Association, National Eye Institute and American Optometric Association.

Diabetes-related eye diseases often have no symptoms but early signs can be detected during a dilated eye exam. People with diabetes should see an optometrist or ophthalmologist at least once a year for a dilated eye exam. Early diagnosis and treatment can help in preventing blindness.