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"We feel that seniors in our communities are at the greatest risk. The longer you have diabetes, the more susceptible you are to losing your vision," says Allison S. Neves, communications manager at EyeCare America, the public service foundation of the American Academy of Ophthalmology.
If you're among the 16 million people who have diabetes, you're 25 times more likely to lose your eyesight than people without it. African Americans and Hispanics are particularly susceptible. Lack of awareness is a big contributor -- half the people with the disease go undiagnosed. Studies have found that even for those who know they have it, more than one-third don't get the eye care they need.
"There are a lot of barriers to seniors getting the quality eye care they deserve. First is rising health care costs. Second is access to care in communities, and what is difficult for them is trusting medical professionals. Some are only accustomed to going to physicians when they're in pain -- not for regular checkups," says Neves.
Darlene Thorne, 83, found herself in a tight spot when she moved to Salt Lake City from Las Vegas. With no medical insurance or doctors she knew personally, she decided to try the Seniors EyeCare program for a long-overdue eye checkup. She was surprised to get more than just a free eye exam. "Dr. Harry treated me like I was a regular person and not getting it for free. He tested my eyes and wrote out a prescription for glasses even though that wasn't included in the program. Recently, when I got an infection, I was so frightened. At least I had someplace to go; otherwise I would have sat around for several days or longer. I prefer going somewhere where they have feelings for people rather than some run-of-the-mill practice."
The EyeCare America program makes such personal relationships possible by hooking up patients with an ophthalmologist in their area -- one of its 7,500 volunteers. "It's not a mass screening in any way -- it's an actual doctor's appointment. Should anything be diagnosed, the patients are seen up to one year for no out-of-pocket costs. It's really just about getting that person into that office to prevent eyesight damage," says Neves. In-depth medical exams by an ophthalmologist are critical, as they can detect symptoms that eye screenings at an optometrist or a local store might have missed.
What many people don't know is that diabetes-related eye diseases such as retinopathy, cataracts, and glaucoma develop without warning signs. Extremely high blood pressure levels can damage the retina without any apparent changes in vision, leading you to believe that nothing's wrong while your sight degenerates.
All these factors cause 24,000 cases of vision loss every year. The good news is that proper detection, treatment, and care can prove 95 percent effective in preventing blindness -- even for people with advanced retinopathy. If you experience floaters (sudden flashes or spots) or blurred or double vision, schedule an appointment immediately. Otherwise, an annual dilated eye exam is a must for everyone with diabetes.
To see if you are eligible to receive a referral to one of EyeCare America's ophthalmologists, call 1-800-272-EYES (3937).
EyeCare America's Diabetes EyeCare Program is designed for people who:
- have diabetes;
- are age 65 and older;
- are U.S. citizens or legal residents;
- have not seen an ophthalmologist in three or more years;
- do not have insurance through an HMO or the VA.
Ways to fight diabetes-related eye diseases:
- Keep your blood sugar under good control.
- Monitor your blood pressure and keep it under good control, or seek appropriate care.
- Maintain a healthy diet.
- Exercise regularly.
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