Well Folks! It’s Fall again – apple and pumpkin picking, Fall Fests and hayrides! Fall also means back to school for the kids. Back to school typically involves back to school shopping for back packs, clothing and school supplies. Parents – what should also be on your back-to-school
check list is getting your child and yourselves eye screenings. If you don’t have a family optometrist, most schools provide screenings, and there are also local Lions clubs that provide eye screenings free of charge. Eye exams can detect:
- Early onset Diabetes
- Cataracts
- Macular Degeneration
- Glaucoma
- Retinal Detachments
- Diabetic Macular Edema and
- Diabetic Retinopathy
Diabetic Retinopathy is the leading cause of blindness, but 95% of cases can be prevented with early detection. Diabetic Macular Edema (DME) leads to total vision loss. 1 in 5 people with Diabetes don’t know they have DME unless given an eye exam by a healthcare provider, but
early detection is key to preserve vision and even reverse vision loss. Both diseases are caused by high blood sugar levels over long periods of time that can cause the blood vessels in the retina to leak or bleed and this fluid can accumulate under the Macula causing the Edema. The ADA advises eye exams within 5 years upon diagnosis for people with Type 1 diabetes, and within a couple of months upon diagnosis for people with Type 2 diabetes. As the old adage goes “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” So, as we enter into the Fall, let us all do our part to eliminate diabetes-induced blindness and stay in focus for the future.
Seeing is believing!
About the author
Ron Bollinger is a Coalition Member
