November is American Diabetes Month, but What Does that Have to Do with Vision Loss?

According to the Centers for Disease Control, more than 100 million adults in America are suffering from Diabetes or prediabetes*. This means that nearly 10% of the population suffers from this disease*. Out of these adults suffering from diabetes, 25% of them were unaware that they had diabetes*. Diabetes entails many symptoms, which include frequently urinating, being very hungry or thirsty, extreme fatigue, blurry vision, slow healing process, abnormal weight loss, and tingling/numbness of the hands and feet*. In addition to many symptoms, diabetes also comes with many complications such as high blood pressure, increased risk of strokes, and nerve damage, but did you know that diabetes affects your vision as well?

Diabetic Eye Disease is a group of diseases that affect the vision of people suffering from Diabetes*. These diseases include Diabetic Retinopathy, Diabetic Macular Edema (DME), Cataracts, and Glaucoma*. Each type of disease comes with its own list of symptoms, risks, and treatment options. One thing all forms of Diabetic Eye Disease has in common is the risk for severe vision loss, and the potential to cause blindness. Because Diabetic Eye Disease is often unnoticed until vision loss occurs, it is recommended for those who suffer from Diabetes to receive a dilated eye exam at least once a year. You should consult your optometrist or ophthalmologist to discuss how often you need an eye exam. The most common form of Diabetic Eye Disease is Diabetic Retinopathy.

Diabetic Retinopathy is the most common cause of vision loss in people with Diabetes, and a leading cause of blindness among working-age adults*. Diabetic Retinopathy is a disease that affects tissues within the Retina that detect light. This is caused from chronically high blood sugar that causes damage to the blood vessels within the eye. Vision impairment can occur through leaking of these blood vessels, or overgrowth of blood vessels. Another common form of Diabetic Eye Disease is Diabetic Macular Edema (DME).

Diabetic Macular Edema (DME) occurs when fluid accumulates within the macula. The macula is responsible for sharp vision straight-ahead vision that is used when reading, recognizing faces, and driving*. DME is the most common cause of vision loss within people who suffer from Diabetic Retinopathy. Nearly 50% of those who suffer from Diabetic Retinopathy will develop DME*. Anyone who suffers from type 1 or type 2 diabetes is at risk for Developing Diabetic Retinopathy, including women who suffer from Gestational Diabetes. Gestational Diabetes entails its own risk factors for Diabetic Eye Disease. It is often not caught in its early stages, and is rapidly worsening. If you are diagnosed with gestational diabetes, it is always a good idea to have an eye exam, just to be safe.

Both Diabetic Retinopathy and Diabetic Macular Edema can be detected through a comprehensive dilated eye exam. During this exam, the eyes will be checked for signs of Diabetic Retinopathy or DME, such as leaking blood vessels, swelling of the Macula, changes of the lens or blood vessels, and damage to nerve tissue. Treatment for these conditions can include injections and/or laser surgery.

The best way to prevent Diabetic Eye Disease is to control blood sugar levels with insulin and diet adjustments. Talk to your physician about medications to help control blood sugar levels.

As for diet, there are foods that can help regulate the blood sugar levels. These foods include berries, whole grains with a lot of fiber (such as oatmeal), avocado, cottage cheese, eggs, lean meats, and a variety of vegetables. By adding some of these foods to your diet, you can help control blood sugar and decrease risk for complications that arise with diabetes. Another great way to control blood sugar levels is by choosing complex carbohydrates such as fruits, beans, lentils, and quinoa. Eating healthy snacks rich in fiber during the day can help control hunger and cravings. In addition to choosing healthier carbohydrates, you should offset the amount of carbohydrates you’re eating by adding a lot of fresh, non-starchy vegetables, lean protein, and healthy fats. In addition to a healthy diet, daily exercise can help decrease the risk for Diabetic Eye Disease. Daily exercise can help prevent obesity, and reduce the risk for diabetes.

By controlling blood sugar, maintaining a healthy diet, and regular exercise, you will be able to help control your diabetes or prevent diabetes all together. By controlling and preventing diabetes, you are protecting yourself from Diabetic Eye Disease. If you have any questions, or would like to schedule an appointment, please call us. Our Kansas City location can be reached by calling 816-455-2020. You can reach our St. Joseph location at 816-279-7015.

 

*Attributions:

https://nei.nih.gov/health/diabetic/retinopathy

http://www.diabetes.org/diabetes-basics/symptoms/?loc=adm

https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2017/p0718-diabetes-report.html

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The Dangers of Costume Contact Lenses

 Halloween is a fun time of the year for children and young adults. They enjoy dressing up and going out for candy, but what is the scariest part of Halloween? Well, the answer is possibly going blind due to wearing cosmetic contact lenses. The reality is, not many people are aware of the risk that these “cheap” Halloween contacts entail. Sadly, these lenses are often sold illegally, and are marketed to children and young adults as toys or fashion accessories.

Cosmetic contact lenses – otherwise known as circle lenses, colored contact lenses, and Halloween contacts – are not FDA approved. While they may make your eyes look a different color, like a vampire, or your favorite movie character, they should only be worn if you have seen an ophthalmologist/optometrist and have received a prescription. Contacts are not “one size fits all.” People have different eye shapes and unique conditions that may require specific contacts. Even if you have perfect vision, you should never buy contacts without a prescription just because they’re cheap. These costume lenses may cost less money, but they may cost your eyesight.

A recent study shows that wearing these cosmetic contact lenses increase your risk for Keratitis – an infection that can cause blindness by 16 times or more*. The shocking part is that more than 60% of patients who developed Keratitis from these lenses, suffered permanent vision loss*. Keratitis is not the only risk that comes with cosmetic contact lenses. According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, these lenses can scratch the eye, causing redness, light sensitivity, discharge, and pain. This scratching occurs due to sizing issues with the contacts. Another way these costume contacts can be harmful is by causing sores on the eyes, known as corneal ulcers*. When these sores heal, scarring can be left behind, which can permanently affect your vision. These cosmetic contact lenses may lead to many different types of infections, including herpes simplex*.

Treatment for these various issues that can arise as a result of wearing costume lenses can range anywhere from medicated eye drops to a corneal transplant*. It is unclear just how many injuries occur each year from wearing these lenses, but a recent study shows that more than 13,500 pediatric cases appear in the Emergency Room each year as a result of cosmetic lenses*. Although there have been no studies conducted to determine the number of injuries these lenses are responsible for, we do know that 17% of Americans have worn these lenses for decorative reasons alone, meaning they did not provide any vision correction. Of these people, 24% of them bought the lenses from an over-the-counter source that did not require a prescription*.

If you are thinking of getting cosmetic contact lenses for any reason, you should first consult your eye care professional. If you have never worn lenses before, they will examine your eyes to determine whether or not you are even a good candidate for contact lenses. Your eyes will then be examined to determine the proper size and fitting lenses that you need. During this exam and follow-up appointments, your ophthalmologist or optometrist will educate you on the proper care for your new lenses, including cleaning them and the duration they can be worn. When seeking cosmetic lenses, do not expect to be prescribed circle lenses, or any other lense that changes the appearance of the shape of your eye because they are not FDA approved*.  

According to the Food and Drug Administration, you can protect your vision by receiving an eye exam for contacts before buying contacts. You can also protect your vision by only buying lenses from sources that require a prescription, online and in person. Of course you will want to follow the instructions from your eye care professional on cleaning and handling your lenses. Lastly, it is vital that you seek medical help if you begin to show any warning signs of infection or injury such as redness, long-lasting pain, and vision loss.

If you encounter these costume contact lenses being sold illegally, there are some ways that you can help. If you discover these lenses being sold illegally, you can report the retailer to the FDA. To do this, you may call 1-866-300-4374 or 301-796-8240 to report the retailer as quickly as possible. If you have any questions, or would like to make an appointment, please call us. The number to our Kansas City location is 816-455-2020. Our St. Joseph office location can be reached by calling 816-279-7015.

 

*Sources: https://www.aao.org/eye-health/glasses-contacts/colored-lenses

https://www.aao.org/eye-health/glasses-contacts/colored-lenses

https://www.fda.gov/forconsumers/consumerupdate/ucm402704.htm

https://www.aao.org/eye-health/news/four-ways-costume-contact-lenses-ruin-vision

http://www.aoa.org/newsroom/dont-buy-contact-lenses-from-any-store-or-website-if-it-doesnt-require-a-prescription?sso=y

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