Vision Source Urges Diabetics to Screen for Diabetic Retinopathy during American Diabetes Month

Nov. 14, 2011 - PRLog -- LAS VEGAS —In the United States, diabetic retinopathy is the leading cause of blindness among adults 20 to 74 years old.  It affects 40 to 45 percent of America’s 25.8 million diabetics, including both type 1 and type 2 . The disease damages blood vessels in the retina , the thin layer of light-sensitive tissue located at the back of the eye. In Las Vegas, only 63.2 percent of area diabetes patients receive comprehensive dilated annual eye exams that are critical to monitoring for this sight-threatening condition; the national average is 69.2 percent .

November is American Diabetes Month and Vision Source optometrist Dr. Mark Lee urges patients with diabetes to schedule an annual comprehensive eye exam.  

“Often there are no symptoms or pain in the early stages of the disease, which makes it important that all diabetics are monitored for diabetic retinopathy,” explains Lee. “Through an eye exam, we can detect the disease and can take action in the early stages. If left untreated, proliferative retinopathy can cause severe vision loss and even blindness. Also, the earlier you receive treatment, the more likely treatment will be effective.”  

Symptoms of retinopathy include seeing floaters in one’s field of vision, blurred vision, dark spots and difficulty seeing at night. Patients experiencing any of these symptoms are strongly advised to schedule an appointment with their optometrist immediately. Diabetics can do their part to prevent or slow the development of diabetic retinopathy by taking medication prescribed by their doctors and controlling blood sugar and cholesterol levels, blood pressure while maintaining a healthy diet and exercising regularly.

“Small leaks in the retina can happen to any person with diabetes, even someone doing a great job of managing sugar levels. These leaks can be in areas of the retina that don’t cause any vision symptoms whatsoever,” says Lee. “That’s why it’s important to have regular, dilated eye examinations. Leaky vessels, if serious enough, can be treated to prevent major vision loss.”

By 2050, one in three adults in the United States could have the disease; currently, more than 25 percent of people over the age of 40 with diabetes have diabetic retinopathy1.

Vision Source at Schwartz Eye Care is located at 3016 W. Charleston Blvd, Ste. 180 in Las Vegas; 702-823-2121 http://www.visionsource-schwartzeyecare.com

About Vision Source
Vision Source Las Vegas is a network of optometrists that provides patients with personal care and service while offering advanced medical technology and innovative products to promote eye health. Vision Source doctors are committed to continuing education, offering patients the most innovative procedures to detect and correct eye conditions. As a group, Vision Source is dedicated to educating the community through special events and programs about eye health issues and the importance of annual eye exams. Founded in 1991, the Vision Source network includes 2,000 offices and more than 4,000 doctors in all 50 states and in Canada. Vision Source Las Vegas, started in 2003, now includes 18 optometrists at 13 locations in the Las Vegas area.

For more information about Vision Source, call 1-800-EYES-911 or visit http://www.visionsourcevegas.com. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

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Vision Source Las Vegas is a network of board-certified optometrists that provides patients with personal care and service while offering advanced medical technology and innovative products to promote eye health. http://www.visionsourcevegas.com.