Diabetic Eye Disease to Increase as More Young People Are Diagnosed With Diabetes
Market Wire, November, 2009
The incidence of diabetes continues to
increase, particularly among adolescents and young adults. The CDC projects
the number of diabetic retinopathy cases will double by 2050. On World
Diabetes Day, November 14, the American Academy of Ophthalmology (Academy),
through its EyeSmart(TM) campaign, is reminding the public that an annual
dilated eye exam can help prevent vision loss in people with diabetes. To
promote awareness of the need for an annual eye exam, the Academy, along
with its partners the American Society of Retina Specialists, the Macula
Society and the Retina Society, has launched EyeSmart EyeCommitted , a
social media campaign to encourage people with diabetes to pledge to get an
annual eye exam.
“As ophthalmologists, we are concerned that the increase in Type 2 diabetes
cases at younger ages could mean people may be facing vision-threatening
eye disease in the prime of their lives,” said David W. Parke II, MD,
executive vice president and CEO of the Academy. “That is why we’re urging
people with diabetes to get EyeCommitted. By taking charge of their eye
health, Americans can greatly reduce their risk of losing their sight from
diabetes.”
The EyeCommitted campaign, which is promoted through social media channels,
includes an interactive pledge application that:
-- Encourages visitors to take the EyeCommitted pledge to have an annual
diabetic eye exam;
-- Allows users to share the pledge and campaign information with friends
and family;
-- Features important diabetic eye disease information and a new video
that tells the compelling stories of two patients with diabetic
retinopathy; and,
-- Allows users to post the application onto their preferred social media
sites.
For each pledge, the Academy will commit another $1 to its diabetic eye
health education efforts.
Detailed information about diabetic eye disease is also available on the EyeSmart Web site .
The EyeCommitted campaign comes at a time when there is a documented rise
in Type 2 diabetes rates among Americans, particularly among the young. An
estimated 23.6 million Americans have Type 2 diabetes, but nearly one
quarter are unaware of it. African-Americans and people of Hispanic
heritage are more likely to have diabetes.
“Once they are diagnosed, people with diabetes will have to manage their
eye health closely for decades, including through their peak work years,”
said Abdhish R. Bhavsar, MD, Director of Clinical Research at the Retina
Center of Minnesota and an attending surgeon at the Phillips Eye Institute
in Minneapolis. “That’s why it is critical for people with Type 2 diabetes
to get an eye exam as soon after their diagnosis as possible and then
annually thereafter.” For people with Type 1 diabetes, also known as
juvenile diabetes, the Academy recommends that the first dilated eye exam
should take place within three to five years of initial diagnosis and then
annually thereafter.
To top dating sites find an Eye M.D. in your area, please visit www.GetEyeSmart.org