Do you know that diabetes can be detected even before the disease could completely take over your body? Ophthalmologists claim that a simple eye examination can detect early signs of diabetes.
The ophthalmologist examines your retina-the light-sensitive tissue in the back of the eye-and check for signs of bleeding outside of the blood vessels inside your eye, a sign of diabetic retinopathy. If left untreated, this damage could lead to permanent blindness.
However, a simple laser treatment may help prevent further loss of vision, although it cannot cure diabetic retinopathy completely. The laser travels through the eye and hits the retina, creating a minute amount of heat enough to cauterize the retina.
If your family has a history of diabetes or you are over 45 years of age, ophthalmologists recommend that you undergo a complete eye examination to look for signs of diabetic retinopathy.
Source: WCBD-TV