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Diabetes Can, if Left Unchecked, Result in Such Complications as Blindness (English-Language)
American Academy of Ophthalmology ConsumerFeature
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MILLIONS OF AMERICANS AFFLICTED WITH DIABETES FACE MANY POTENTIAL COMPLICATIONS--INCLUDING PERMANENT BLINDNESS DUE TO DIABETIC RETINOPATHY. THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF OPHTHALMOLOGY--THE "EYE M-D" ASSOCIATION--SAYS DIABETIC VISION LOSS CAN BE PREVENTED, IF THE DISEASE IS DIAGNOSED AND TREATED IN TIME. ONLY 50- TO 60-PERCENT OF THOSE WITH DIABETES GET THE RECOMMENDED YEARLY EYE EXAMINATIONS. STUDIES SHOW THAT EFFECTIVE TREATMENTS--INCLUDING AN ANNUAL DILATED-EYE EXAM--CAN REDUCE SEVERE VISION LOSS BY UP TO 94-PERCENT. WHAT IS DIABETIC RETINOPATHY? HIGH BLOOD-SUGAR LEVELS WEAKEN BLOOD VESSELS IN THE EYE'S RETINA--CAUSING THEM TO LEAK BLOOD OR FLUID. THIS CAUSES THE RETINA TO SWELL--AND CAN LEAD TO VISION LOSS. THE FIRST STEP IN PREVENTING COMPLICATIONS IS FINDING OUT IF YOU HAVE THE DISEASE: IT'S IMPORTANT FOR ALL HEALTHY ADULTS OVER THE AGE OF 45 TO HAVE A BLOOD-SUGAR TEST ONCE EVERY THREE YEARS. IF YOU NOTICE A VISION CHANGE IN ONE EYE, A CHANGE THAT LASTS MORE THAN A DAY OR TWO, OR CHANGES NOT ASSOCIATED WITH FLUCTUATIONS IN BLOOD SUGAR, CONTACT YOUR EYE M-D IMMEDIATELY. ASK YOUR EYE M-D ABOUT DIABETIC RETINOPATHY. TO FIND AN EYE M-D IN YOUR AREA, VISIT "A-A-O"-DOT-ORG.
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