The clinical paper, “Healthy Sight Counseling: Diabetes and the Eye,” provides insights into the impact of diabetes on several debilitating eye diseases--including diabetic retinopathy, cataracts and age-related macular degeneration--as well as the susceptibility of diabetic eyes to heightened damage from ultraviolet (UV) light.
View Healthy Sight Counseling: Diabetes and the Eye in PDF format.
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In addition to the global team from Transitions Optical, Inc., Leila El Matri, a Tunisian ophthalmologist and professor, presented the latest information relating to eye health and diabetes--as captured in the new clinical paper “Diabetes and the Eye.” |
“The alarming, rising prevalence of diabetes around the world calls for increased focus on all the detrimental side effects of the disease, including on the eye,” said Bette Zaret, senior vice president, global marketing, Transitions Optical.
“Transitions is committed to an ongoing and concerted level of support for professionals in staying on top of the latest clinical developments and providing them with tools to raise the critically low public awareness of this important health risk.”
Zaret advocated more education among not just diabetics, but all the public, “since 50 percent of people with diabetes are unaware that they have it and early intervention is so important,” she said.
Zaret added, “Transitions Optical will be releasing additional education materials focused on the needs of children and special groups exhibiting higher incidence of diabetes later in 2008.”
The company is also making available several public education tools. Healthy Sight Counseling emphasizes the importance of maintenance and preventive eyecare and increased professional and patient awareness.
The paper is authored by Bruce Bode, MD; Leila El Matri, Pr.; Paul Brant, OD; Susan Stenson, MD and Gary L. Trick, Ph.D. The full results of the paper and its research are available by going to www.transitions.com/diabetes.
“All eyes are in need of protection from UV radiation and glare, but in diabetic eyes that are already at risk for various eye diseases, this need may be even more acute,” said El Matri, who shared highlights.
“As the prevalence of diabetes continues to rise throughout the world, it’s imperative for doctors to keep the potential effects of diabetes on visual health top-of-mind and to properly advise those managing the disease, as well as those at risk for it, on steps they can take to optimize and preserve their vision.” The paper also addresses the importance of reminding patients that certain medications, which they may be taking to manage their diabetes, may increase their sensitivity to light.
Diabetics themselves remain in the dark regarding the connection between diabetes and eye health. Between one-third and two-thirds of diabetic respondents did not identify vision problems as a side effect of diabetes. Awareness of specific visual conditions exacerbated by diabetes was also low. For example, only 20 percent or less of diabetics were aware that light sensitivity can be worsened by the disease.
According to El Matri, “This lack of awareness poses a real danger to diabetic patients, for whom regular eye exams are essential to detect early onset and provide early management of eye disease.” ■
