This is something I do not understand.
Why about 60 percent of people with diabetes do not have annual eye
exams is a real puzzle. I was told to have an eye exam shortly after
being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. I had my exam within 4 months
and would not have changed doctors if it had not been for a change in
prescriptions that the office would not make right after giving me
glasses that were creating vision problems.
I was fortunate when I changed eye
doctors and the eye doctor could see what was causing the problem and
ordered me a new set of glasses that really helped me. I have stayed
with this office and have received the care I needed.
People with diabetes are at increased
risk of developing serious eye diseases, yet most do not have
sight-saving annual eye exams, according to a large study presented
this week at AAO 2016, the 120th annual meeting of the American
Academy of Ophthalmology. This is especially timely as the Academy
is reiterating the importance of eye exams during the month of
November, which is observed as Diabetic Eye Disease Awareness Month.
Researchers at Wills Eye Hospital in
Philadelphia have found that more than half of patients with the
disease skip these exams. They also discovered that patients who
smoke as well as those with less severe diabetes and no eye problems
were most likely to neglect having these eye exams.
The researchers collaborated with the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to review the charts of
close to 2,000 patients age 40 or older with type 1 and type 2
diabetes to see how many had regular eye exams. Their findings over
a four-year period revealed that:
• Fifty-eight percent of patients did
not have regular follow-up eye exams
• Smokers were 20 percent less likely
to have exams
• Those with less-severe disease and
no eye problems were least likely to follow recommendations
• Those who had diabetic retinopathy
were 30 percent more likely to have follow-up exams
One in 10 Americans has diabetes,
putting them at heightened risk for visual impairment due to the eye
disease diabetic retinopathy. The disease also can lead to other
blinding ocular complications if not treated in time – think
cataracts, glaucoma, and a few others. Fortunately, having a dilated eye exam yearly or more often can prevent 95 percent of
diabetes-related vision loss.
Eye exams are critical as they can
reveal hidden signs of disease, enabling timely treatment. This is
why the Academy recommends people with diabetes have them annually or
more often as recommended by their ophthalmologist, a physician who
specializes in medical and surgical eye care.
"Vision loss is tragic,
especially when it is preventable," said Ann P. Murchison,
M.D., MPH, lead author of the study and director of the eye emergency
department at Wills Eye Hospital. "That's why we want to
raise awareness and ensure people with diabetes understand the
importance of regular eye exams."
The Academy has released a new animated
public service announcement to help educate people about the
importance of regular exams and common eye diseases including
diabetic retinopathy. It encourages the public to watch and share it
with their friends and family.
"People with diabetes need to
know that they shouldn't wait until they experience problems to get
these exams," Rahul N. Khurana, M.D, clinical spokesperson
for the Academy. "Getting your eyes checked by an
ophthalmologist can reveal the signs of disease that patients aren't
aware of."
American seniors 65 and older may be
eligible to get a medical eye exam at no cost through Eye Care
America, a public service program of the Academy.
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