New York, Long Island Stahl Eye Center Vision Specialists Raise Awareness Of Diabetic Eye Disease

www.stahleyecenter.com

Diabetic eye disease is the leading cause of new cases of blindness among adults ages 20-74. Although regular eye exams are a proven way to prevent vision loss, surveys have shown that less than half of people with diabetes get their eyes checked on a regular basis. An estimated 21 million people have diabetes, and diabetic eye disease, known as retinopathy, causes up to 24,000 new cases of blindness each year.

During national "Save Your Vision Month" in March, doctors at Stahl Eye Center are seeking to raise awareness of the importance of regular eye exams. Stahl has offices in Garden City, Hauppauge and Manhattan.

"Unfortunately, many people with diabetes already have advanced eye disease when they finally see an ophthalmologist," says Ben Chang, MD, a retina specialist at Stahl Eye Center. "By the time patients are aware of visual problems, most often they´ve already sustained permanent, irreversible damage."

Dr. Chang says it´s tragic to see anyone go blind from diabetic eye disease because it is preventable. The American Academy of Ophthalmology recommends that everyone with diabetes have an eye exam with dilated pupils at least once a year. Early detection, timely treatment and follow-up care can reduce the risk of vision loss significantly.

People develop retinopathy when diabetes damages the tiny blood vessels in the retina. At first, they may not notice any changes in their sight and may even have 20/20 vision. But over time, diabetic retinopathy usually gets worse and causes vision loss.

With early detection, laser treatment can often save sight. Anyone who has blurred vision or sees floating spots should make an appointment with an ophthalmologist, according to Dr. Chang. During the exam, the physician dilates the eye, or enlarges the pupil, so he can look inside to check for signs of the disease.

Patients who do not want their eyes to be dilated have a different option, according to Marc Werner, MD, another ophthalmologist at Stahl Eye Center. "We give our patients another option so they don´t have to deal with the inconvenience and temporary

blurred vision caused by dilation. We have a device called Optomap that uses scanning laser technology to take a picture of the retina without dilating the pupils."

In addition to yearly eye exams, doctors say it's important for people with diabetes to develop good health habits to preserve their vision. That means watching their diet and maintaining a healthy weight, getting regular exercise, not smoking and carefully controlling their blood sugar levels.

Anyone who would like more information about diabetic retinopathy and other eye diseases can visit: www.stahleyecenter.com or call 1-888-55-SIGHT to make an appointment.