Report: Latinos at High Risk of Diabetic Eye Disease

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Latinos have higher risk of diabetic eye disease.

That makes it important to have an annual dilated eye exam—when an eye care professional dilates, or widens, the pupil to check the retina in the back of the eye for signs of damage, such as a cataract (clouding of the lens of the eye), diabetic retinopathy (damage to the retina), and glaucoma (damage to the optic nerve).

November, which is National Diabetes Month, makes a perfect time to schedule dilated eye exam, according to the National Eye Health Education Program (NEHEP) of the National Eye Institute (NEI).

“Half of all people with diabetes don’t get annual dilated eye exams. People need to know that about 95 percent of severe vision loss from diabetic retinopathy can be prevented through early detection, timely treatment, and appropriate follow-up,” said Dr. Suber Huang, chair of the Diabetic Eye Disease Subcommittee for NEHEP.

Diabetic retinopathy, the most common form of diabetic eye disease, is the leading cause of blindness in American adults.

If you have diabetes, NEHEP suggests a comprehensive dilated eye exam at least once a year, as these other health tips to help control diabetes:

• Taking your medications.
• Reaching and maintaining a healthy weight.
• Adding physical activity to your day.
• Controlling your blood sugar, blood pressure, and cholesterol.
• Kicking the smoking habit.

For more information on diabetic eye disease, financial assistance for eye care, and how you can maintain healthy vision, go here.

Also check out the NEHEP’s new infographic.