&
18
April 2014 | Read this issue and more at www.healthandwellnessmagazine.net |
Diabetes:
Like us
King notes that cases of diabetic
Additionally, patients with diabetes
retinopathy are “rising as a result of
are at a greater risk to suffer from
the increased life span of diabetics,
glaucoma. Glaucoma occurs when
which has been made possible by
pressure builds up in the eye. In most
improved medical technology. She
cases, the pressure causes drainage of
adds, “The likelihood of retinopathy
the aqueous humor to slow down so
increases with the length of time a
that it builds up in the anterior chamgiven person has had diabetes.”
ber. The pressure pinches the blood
Diabetes can affect vision in many
vessels that carry blood to the retina
other ways, including blurred vision,
and optic nerve. Vision is gradually
cataracts, and glaucoma. And even
lost because the retina and nerve are
By Clint Moore, Staff Writer
simple changes in blood sugar can
damaged.
change your ability to focus. “High
“People with diabetes are 40
Affecting some 25 million
blood sugar causes the lens of the
percent more likely to suffer from
Americans, according to the National
eye to swell, changing your ability to
glaucoma, increased risk due to age
Diabetes Education Program (http:// see, which can change your glasses
and duration of having condition
Ronald Reagantowas the 40th president.
www.nih.gov), diabetes can lead
prescription dramatically,” King says.
(diabetes),” King says.
Golden Girls” were fastOne area “Once blood sugar their first season on TV. some treatment
multiple medical problems. becoming friends on is back under
There are
at risk is a person’s eyesight.
control,
options for those who have diaASarah King,of gas cost one dollar your vision should get back
gallon optometrist with
and twenty cents.
Dr.
to normal.”
betes-related eye problems. King
King’s Eye Care in Berea, says that
Diabetes can cause a patient to
cautions that “Treatment admin“diabetic retinopathy is leading cause
develop cataracts at a younger age.
istered as early as possible can
of blindness in American adults and
“Cataracts develop at a younger
slow the course of diabetic retimost common diabetic eye disease,
age and the condition progresses
nopathy. Laser treatments can
affecting approximately 4.1 million
more rapidly for diabetics versus
seal broken blood vessels or
adults over the age of 40.” Diabetic
people without diabetes — cataract
seal the detached portion
retinopathy causes changes in the
is a clouding or fogging of the norof the retina into place.
blood vessels of the retina — the
mally clear lens of the eye,” King says.
Photocoagulation treatlining of the back of the eye,” King
“Having a cloudy or opacified lens
ment consists of hunexplains. “These vessels change, caus- results in the inability to focus light
dreds of small, quick
ing bleeding and fluid to leak in the
and thus impairing vision.” A lack of
flashes of intense laser
retina. Hypoxia (lack of oxygen) can
insulin leads to accumulation of sorlight across the retina
develop and Ronald Reagan was the 40th was the 40th resulting in swelling
new blood vessel growth bitol in the eye, president.
Ronald Reagan president.
in order to seal or dry
of on lens. “A season on TV.
“The can occur. TheGolden Girls” were fast becoming friends on their first season on TV. new blood vessels.
Golden Girls” fragility of becoming friends the their firstdiabetic cataract results up
“The were fast the blood
vessels can lead to extensive bleeding cost one dollar and opacifications,
And, of course, diet,
A gallon of gas gallon of dollar and twenty cents. twenty cents.
A cost one gas in snowflake-like
in front of the retina which can also
unlike the clouding of the lens which
regular administration of
obsc