Diabetes and Your Eyes - Bascom Palmer Eye Institute

Bascom Palmer Eye Institute
Diabetes and
Your Eyes

Diabetes and
Your Eyes
A person with diabetes is at risk for
developing diabetic eye disease, the
leading cause of blindness in young and
middle-aged adults today.
Diabetic eye disease may include diabetic
retinopathy (damage to the blood vessels
in the retina), cataracts (clouding of the
eye’s lens), or glaucoma (increase in
fluid pressure inside the eye that leads to
optic nerve damage and loss of vision).
There is a lot you can do to take charge
and prevent such problems.
Diabetic eye disease may be present
even if your vision is normal and you
have no pain.
If you have diabetes, we recommend
that you get a dilated eye exam with your
ophthalmologist at least once a year.
High blood glucose can damage your
eyes as time goes by. The longer you
have diabetes, the greater your risk of
developing diabetic eye disease. More
frequent eye examinations may be
necessary after eye disease is diagnosed.
Prevention is Everything
Know Your ABCs:
A Hemoglobin A1C test for
average Blood Glucose
This is a blood test that your medical
doctor checks regularly to measure
the overall control of your diabetes.
The A1C is the most important test
to prevent diabetes damage to the
eye, heart and kidneys. Ask what
your number is at your next appointment.
Keep your hemoglobin A1C
under 7.
B Blood pressure
Controlling blood pressure reduces
your risk of diabetic eye disease as
high blood pressure can damage
your eyes. Make sure your blood
pressure is under 130/80.
C Cholesterol
Keep your total cholesterol number
below 200.

Healthful
Hints
• Quit smoking.
• Get a dilated eye exam once a year.
Have your ophthalmologist examine
your eyes once a year. Finding eye
problems early and getting treatment
right away will help prevent more
serious problems later on.
• Reach and stay at a healthy weight.
Choose high-fiber, low-fat foods such
as vegetables, lentils, beans and whole
grains. Eat more fish and chicken.
Avoid juice, soda, candy, and fried or
oily foods. If you want help on planning
meals, ask your internist to recommend
a nutrition professional.
• Take your medicines as prescribed by
your doctor.
• Monitor your blood sugar daily. Keep
your daily blood sugar less than 140.
If it is not under this number most days,
tell your internist or endocrinologist so
that your medications can be adjusted.
Do not wait until your next appointment.
• Call your ophthalmologist immediately
if you are having any vision problems
or if you have had a sudden change in
your vision. If you see sudden streaks
of black or red, or if you feel as if a
curtain has been pulled over part of
what you are looking at, go to the
ophthalmologist immediately. Do not
wait for your next appointment.
Get regular
physical activity.
30 minutes
a day can help
prevent disease,
and 60 minutes
a day can help
you loose weight.

For More
Information
The Diabetes Research Institute at
the University of Miami Miller School
of Medicine has useful classes on
managing your diabetes.
Call 305-243-5300 for a schedule.
To find a dietician near you, call the
American Dietetic Association at
1-800-366-1655 or visit
www.eatright.org and click on
“Find a registered dietician.”
To Schedule
An Appointment
To schedule an appointment with a
Bascom Palmer ophthalmologist,
please call 1-888-845-0002.
Appointments may also be requested
online at: www.bascompalmer.org
Bascom Palmer Eye Institute’s
Emergency Department in Miami is
open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
For more information on diabetes
or diabetic eye disease, visit the
American Diabetes Association at
www.diabetes.org or the National
Eye Institute at www.nei.nih.gov
Bascom Palmer Eye Institute of
the University of Miami Miller
School of Medicine is proud to be
America’s best eye hospital
according to U.S. News & World
Report.

Bascom Palmer Eye Institute
(800) 329-7000
www.bascompalmer.org
Miami
900 N.W. 17th Street, Miami, FL 33136
(305) 326-6000
Palm Beach Gardens
7101 Fairway Drive, Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33418
(561) 515-1500
Naples
311 9th Street North, Naples, FL 34102
(239) 659-3937
Plantation
1000 South Pine Island Road, Plantation, FL 33324
(954) 465-2700
DIA 06/10