Florida Eye Institute Blog

Diabetes can significantly increase your risk of vision loss.  It’s estimated that 45% of individuals with diabetes already have some form of eye disease, yet most do not schedule annual, sight-saving exams according to a large study. Florida Eye Institute emphasizes the importance of healthy vision this November, nationally recognized as Diabetes Awareness Month. Learn how diabetes impacts your risk eye disease during an informative seminar presented by Dr. Thomas Baudo, fellowship-trained retina specialist, on Friday November 15 at 1:00 PM. Diabetic eye disease is a group of conditions that includes retinopathy, diabetic macular edema (DME), cataract, and glaucoma. Fluctuating blood sugar creates fragile, abnormal blood vessels that grow and leak within the eye, distorting vision. Distortions can advance to blindness if left untreated. Researchers at Wills Eye Hospital in Philadelphia discovered that more than half of those with diabetes skip annual eye exams. Smokers were most likely to neglect check-ups and consequently show signs of diabetic eye disease. Other findings include: Fifty-eight percent of patients did not have regular eye exams Smokers were 20 percent less likelyto have exams Those with moderate disease and no current vision loss were least likely to follow recommendations Those diagnosed with diabetic retinopathy were 30 percent more likely to

According to a national survey released by the American Academy of Ophthalmology, nearly two out of three American adults report having eye or vision problems. A significant percentage of them, however, fail to seek medical attention in the form of regular, sight-saving eye exams. In observance of Healthy Aging Month in September, the Florida Eye Institute joins the American Academy of Ophthalmology in emphasizing the importance of having regular eye exams to maintain healthy eyes and vision. Some of the more common age-related eye diseases include age-related macular degeneration, cataract, diabetic retinopathy and glaucoma. Early detection and treatment of these conditions can help to save sight before vision loss occurs [i]. Ophthalmologists – the physicians that specialize in medical and surgical eye care – recommend a dilated comprehensive eye exam as the best way to prevent these conditions from becoming debilitating. U.S. Adults Do Not Get Eye Exams as Often as Recommended The survey results emphasize a need for more education about the importance of medical eye exams. Findings showed that 64 percent of adults had at least one or more of the following issues with their eyes or vision: difficulty seeing at night; blurry vision; reading up close; flashes