Eye Exams Can Provide Early Warnings of Diabetes

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

 

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