November is Diabetic Eye Disease Month

November is Diabetic Eye Disease Month. Diabetic eye disease is one of the major causes of vision loss in adults. When the sugar levels in the blood are high, it is very stressful on the blood vessels all over the body, putting individuals at high risk for heart attack, stroke, and kidney disease. In the eye, blood vessels can start to leak or bleed in reaction to high blood sugar. This swelling in the retina can decrease vision, so it’s best detected and treated early.

The retinal hemorrhaging associated with diabetes has no symptoms at first, but once vision is affected it becomes much harder to treat. In fact, diabetes is the leading cause of legal blindness in the US for people under age 65. It is the second leading cause of legal blindness in the country for people over age 65.

How is diabetic eye disease treated? First by controlling blood sugar. An eye exam may consist of your eye doctor taking some pictures of the retina at the back of the eye to locate areas of swelling. If you have diabetic eye disease, injections of medication into the eye or laser treatments, or both, may be required to stop or slow down the abnormal blood vessels. Unlike cataracts, you can’t replace your retina when it’s not working and unlike glaucoma, you can’t take eye drops to control it.

The American Academy of Ophthalmology recommends seeing your eye doctor when you receive a new diagnosis of diabetes, and at least every year after that. More frequent visits to the eye doctor may be required if there is some diabetic eye disease. With good blood sugar control and appropriate eye exams people with diabetes can keep their eyes healthy and seeing well.

Here are some key facts about diabetes:

• More than 21 million people in the United States have diabetes.
• 6.2 million people with diabetes are unaware they have diabetes.
• An estimated 54 million Americans aged 40 to 74 (40.1% of the US population in this age group) have prediabetes, a condition that puts them at high risk for developed Type 2 diabetes.
• Diabetes is the leading cause of new cases of blindness among adults ages 20 to 74.
• People with diabetes are 40% more likely to develop glaucoma.
• People with diabetes are 60% more likely to develop cataracts.

World Sight Day is an annual day of awareness created to help focus global attention on blindness, visual impairment and rehabilitation of those with visual impairments. Each year the event is held on the second Thursday of October.

World Sight Day is observed globally by those involved in preventing visual impairment or restoring sight. It is also the main advocacy event for the prevention of blindness. 80% of blindness is preventable and 9 out of 10 people who are blind live in the developing world.

Some of the international key messages World Sight Day promotes every year are as follows:

• Approximately 285 million people worldwide live with low vision and blindness
• Of these, 39 million people are blind and 246 million have moderate or severe visual impairment
• Restoration of sight and blindness prevention strategies are among the most cost-effective interventions in health care
• The number of people blind from infectious causes had greatly reduced in the past 20 years
• An estimated 19 million children are visually impaired
• About 65% of all people who are visually impaired are aged 50 and older, while this age group comprises only 20% of the world’s population
• Increasing elderly populations in many countries mean that more people will be at risk of age-related visual impairment

When thinking about how to describe the world we live in one word generally comes to mind: connected. Everywhere we go we’re usually carrying around some sort of device that keeps us connected to something important to us. Whether it’s a tablet, smart phone or a computer that we’re using to stay in touch, we sometimes forget to take into consideration two very important devices that keep us connected to the world better than anything else: our eyes.

Technology can take a toll on our eyes, so here are five important tips to keep in mind while using technology to stay connected.

1. Modify Your EnvironmentYou can adjust your environment when using these digital devices to help promote healthier eyes. If possible, use a large monitor or screen magnifier to reduce eye strain. Make sure your chair is close to your computer and that the chair has adequate lower-back support.
2. Think About LightingFor extended reading, change your monitor settings to a reflective lighting scheme, but don’t only think about your computer lighting. Good room lighting is also important for healthy eyes. Keep bright lighting overhead to a minimum. Too much lighting overexposes and irritates eyes, while too little causes the eyes to strain in order to see. Keep your desk lamp shining on your desk, not you. Try to keep window light off to the side, rather than in front or behind you. Use blinds and get a glare screen. Position your computer screen to reduce reflections from windows or overhead lights.
3. Adjust Your Reading AngleAdjust your screen so you look at it slightly downward and are about 24-28 inches away. The center should be about 4-6 inches below your eyes. Also, make sure your screen is large enough and with just the right brightness and contrast so you’re not straining to see text or images clearly. Adjust the screen settings to where they are most comfortable for you.
4. Magnify Text On Your ScreenFor anyone with permanently reduced vision, magnifying the text and images on your device will help you avoid straining your eyes from squinting. Almost every device can be adjusted to display larger text, and for those with compromised vision, this can make reading that much easier.
5. Blink and Take Frequent BreaksMost devices are set up in a way that makes work virtually non-stop, but you have to remember that you are not a machine. You need to take breaks to recharge, and so do your eyes. An easy rule to remember is the 20-20-20 Rule. It’s easy: every 20 minutes, take a 20-second break, and look at something 20 feet away…and don’t forget to blink! Blinking washes your eyes in naturally therapeutic tears. If you regularly wear glasses, make sure you have proper lenses for the computer.

August is National Cataract Awareness Month. During the month of August be sure to focus on your vision and talk to your doctor if you believe you are at risk for cataracts. Since cataracts develop over years, gradual changes in vision can become the norm for most individuals suffering from the condition and therefore become ignored longer than necessary. Some people even describe cataracts as looking through a “dirty windshield”.

Cataracts are the clouding of the lens of the eye and are the leading cause of vision loss in people over the age of 55. More than half of people over the age of 65-years-old have some degree of cataract development, and more than half of people over the age of 80 either have a cataract or have had cataract surgery.

Symptoms of cataracts include:

• Blurred, cloudy vision
• Difficulty seeing at night or while driving
• Sensitivity to light
• Seeing a “halo” around bright lights
• Colors appearing to be faded or yellowed

You are at an increased risk of cataracts if you have diabetes, smoke, or have a family history of cataracts. A comprehensive eye exam can determine whether cataracts are present and whether or not you are a candidate for surgery. If you have any of these symptoms or feel that you are at risk for cataract development, be sure to schedule an eye exam today.

If you want to improve your vision, you had better start with your diet because healthy vision begins with healthy eating habits. Fruits, vegetables, and fish make for healthy, light, delicious meals and snacks during the warm summer months and contain nutrients and powerful antioxidants that are essential to healthy eyes.

Studies have shown that a diet rich in antioxidant vitamins A, C, and E, as well as Zinc, Omega-3 fats, the carotenoids Lutein and Zeaxanthin can help protect your eyes against age-related macular degeneration as well as cataracts.

Certain foods actually have more of these important nutrients than others, but just eating more fruits and vegetables (5 to 9 servings per day) will get you on track to better eye health, and better health overall. The nutrients that are linked the most with eye health are found in fruits, green vegetables, nuts and seafood. Here are some of the best food sources for improving your eye health:

• Vitamin C can be found in brightly colored fruits and vegetables such as bell peppers, citrus fruits, berries, tropical fruits, dark, leafy greens, broccoli, and Brussels sprouts
• Vitamin E can be found in dark, leafy greens, spinach, sunflower seeds, almonds, avocados, sweet potatoes, sardines, as well as vegetable plant oils.
• Vitamin A can be found in yellow, orange, and green fruits and vegetables, including carrots, sweet potatoes, apricots, broccoli, spinach, kale, dark, leafy greens, squash and pumpkin.
• Zinc can be found in nuts, pumpkin and sunflower seeds, oysters, lean beef, whole grains, beans, and dark chocolate.
• Lutein and Zeaxanthin can be found in spinach and other dark, leafy greens, broccoli, Romaine lettuce, zucchini, eggs, corn, and carrots.
• Omega-3 Fats can be found in salmon, sardines, mackerel, herring, trout, flaxseeds, and walnuts.

So load up on yummy salads and throw some salmon on the grill this summer to start building better eye-health habits that will last year-roun

Have you been thinking about perhaps getting a jump start on your summer tan by heading to your local tanning stting on salon? Most people know that ultraviolet (UV) rays can cause skin damage and even cancer, but did you know that indoor tanning can also have harmful effects on your eyes?

No one thinks twice about putting on a pair sunglasses when they go outside into a bright, summer day, but eye protection is even more important when you’re using an indoor tanning bed or booth. Yes, the goggles provided for eye protection while tanning do look a little silly and can sometimes leave you with a funny, raccoon-like tan around your eyes, but that’s a small price to pay to save your eyesight. Tanning beds are well known for their damaging UV rays and simply closing your eyes while tanning in a booth or bed is not enough to protect your eyes against the exposure they receive. Exposure to UV rays can be up to 100 times greater than from just spending time in the summer sun, since they have near direct contact with your eyes when you’re in a tanning booth or bed. Constant exposure to these intense UV rays can cause damage to the eyes, including photokeratitis (a sunburn on your cornea), cataracts, skin cancer around the eye, macular degeneration as well as corneal infections and conjunctivitis. As with sun exposure to skin, these effects on your eyes are cumulative and damage may not start to develop until many years later, so it’s very important to stay protected.

If you must use a tanning bed, be sure to limit your exposure (i.e. how often you tan and the length of time that you tan each session) as well as wear protective eyewear. Use the safety goggles that are offered in the salon, in fact many states require the use of goggles while tanning and many salons provide them for free. Make sure your goggles are in good condition, fit properly and are certified to absorb 100% of UV radiation.

If you experience eye pain after tanning, or if you are a frequent tanner who has noticed changes in your vision, be sure to schedule an exam.