November Is Diabetic Eye Disease Awareness Month

Early detection preserves vision.


The concern of these Americans is valid. Vision loss lowers the quality of life—and, according to Purdue University researchers, it also lowers the length of life. Prof. Sharon Christ recently explained that people with visual decline face an increased mortality risk resulting from a decreasing ability to perform the activities of daily living, such as using the telephone, shopping and preparing their own meals.

With our aging population, an increase in the number of people living with vision loss is inevitable. Some age-related changes in our vision are minor, easily overcome with glasses or contact lenses, or with low-risk surgery. But other eye diseases and conditions are more serious. Glaucoma, cataracts and age-related macular degeneration rob thousands of seniors each year of their independence and mobility. Eye damage resulting from diabetes also is a major cause of vision loss—and the rise in diabetes cases may be growing even faster than the rise in our senior population! According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 40 percent of Americans are expected to develop diabetes during their lifetime.

What is diabetic eye disease?


Reducing the risk of diabetic eye disease


Take your medications.
Reach and maintain a healthy weight.
Add physical activity to your daily routine.
Control your blood sugar, blood pressure and cholesterol.
Kick the smoking habit.

Diagnosis and treatment


Says the NEI's Dr. Paul A. Sieving, "The longer a person has diabetes, the greater his or her risk of developing diabetic eye disease. If you have diabetes, be sure to have a comprehensive dilated eye exam at least once a year. Diabetic eye disease often has no early warning signs, but can be detected early and treated before vision loss occurs. Don't wait until you notice an eye problem to have a dilated eye exam, because vision that is lost often cannot be restored."

Learn More

These organizations offer consumer information about preventing, diagnosing and treating diabetic eye disease:
