Protecting Your Vision

Did you know that your clear view of the world, the one that allows you to read, drive and recognize faces, relies on the health of your retinas? Protecting your vision from preventable retinal disease is important. Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of vision loss among older Americans, affecting more than 11 million people. Diabetic retinopathy is the most common cause of irreversible blindness in working-age Americans, affecting nearly 8 million people.

Here are some ways you can protect yourself from Macular Degeneration:

Pay attention to visual changes and visit an eye physician right away if you experience symptoms such as blurry or distorted vision, if straight lines appear wavy, or you see dark spots, flashes of light or floaters.
Quit smoking. Smoking is the most important modifiable risk factor for macular degeneration
Control your blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol. People who are generally in good health are at lower risk for macular degeneration
Have a healthy diet. Research shows that a diet with Omega-3 fatty acids, lutein, and zeaxanthin can decrease your risk for macular degeneration. Dark green and leafy vegetables are a good source of these nutrients
Stay active and maintain a healthy weight. Studies show that people who exercise are less likely to develop macular degeneration. Exercise helps to control obesity, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and high blood sugar.
Know your family history. Individuals with a family history of macular degeneration are at increased risk to develop macular degeneration. In the future we may be able to test for specific genes which carry an increased risk of macular degeneration.
Protect your eyes from the sun. Exposure to ultraviolet light can damage your eyes causing cataracts, skin cancer, as well as increasing the risk of macular degeneration. While outdoors in direct sunlight, protect yourself with sunglasses that block both UVA and UVB. Wear a hat while outdoors.
Get a regular dilated eye exam. Many retinal diseases have no symptoms in the early stages. Your optometrist, ophthalmologist, or retina specialist can detect retinal disease at an early stage when treatment can be more effective.

Here are some facts about Diabetic Retinopathy:

Diabetic retinopathy is caused by damage to the blood vessels of the retina
Anyone who has diabetes is at risk for the development of diabetic retinopathy
You may have diabetic retinopathy without noticing any symptoms
There are two types of diabetes and two types of diabetic retinopathy:
Type I diabetics are more likely to develop proliferative retinopathy (new blood vessels which may cause bleeding
Type II diabetics are more likely to develop macular edema or swelling of the retina which causes blurred vision

Additional factors which can increase the risk of retinopathy are:

Duration of diabetes. The longer you have diabetes, the more likely you are to develop diabetic retinopathy
Your age. The older you are, the more likely your to develop diabetic retinopathy, especially with diabetes Type II
Poor diabetic control. Having a high Hemoglobin A1c increases your risk of developing diabetic retinopathy
Hypertension and kidney disease increases your risk of diabetic retinopathy
Pregnancy. Pregnancy increases both the risk and severity of diabetic retinopathy

Early warning signs of diabetic retinopathy are:

Blurred or distorted vision, difficulty reading or driving
New onset of floaters or cobwebs

How to decrease your risk of developing diabetic retinopathy

Don’t smoke. Smoking increases both risk and the severity of diabetic retinopathy
Control your blood sugar. Studies show that better control of your diabetes decreases the risk and severity of diabetic retinopathy
Maintain a healthy weight. Weight control makes it easier to control your diabetes
Exercise. Exercise helps lower your blood sugar
Take your medications correctly.
Have a regular eye exam by your optometrist, ophthalmologist or retina specialist