November Focus: Raising Awareness on Diabetes-Related Eye Health
Diabetes can lead to retinal damage, causing vision loss, but early detection and treatment can prevent this outcome. Nearly 40 million Americans have diabetes, with almost half developing diabetic retinopathy, a condition where diabetes damages retinal blood vessels. Risk factors include poor blood sugar control, high blood pressure, and kidney disease. Regular dilated eye exams are crucial for early detection. Advanced technologies like optical coherence tomography and treatments such as anti-VEGF eye injections can help manage the condition.