With November being diabetes awareness month, a message regarding the importance of eye exams is being relayed across the country by optometrists in cooperation with the Canadian Diabetes Association.
On the local front, Dr. Brent Wilkinson said a common problem among those with diabetes is the possibility of contracting diabetic retinopathy, a disease which can cause blindness.
The four most common eye diseases causing blindness and partial sight in Canada are diabetic retinopathy, cataracts, age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and glaucoma.
One of the difficulties in diagnosing diabetic retinopathy, said Wilkinson, is that it’s generally only found through an eye examination. Generally, he said, effects of the disease are not readily apparent to those who may suffer from it.
“Usually what we find is dots of blood on the retina,” said Wilkinson. “But they’re so small, that a person wouldn’t notice, even with your eyes a couple of inches from a mirror.
“As the disease progresses, white spots called cotton wool spots may be found, which signals new blood vessel growth. This is usually because the retina is oxygen starved and new vessels begin growing; eventually there could be bleeding in the eye. Those blood vessels may also not be found on other structures besides the retina.
“Retinopathy can be mild to severe and if eye pressure builds up, it can lead to glaucoma.”
Wilkinson said in most cases, people won’t notice anything, and yet a massive hemorrhage could alter a person’s vision.
“The best thing is to get an eye exam,” he said. “If something like retinopathy is found, and it’s very mild, we (optometrists) can have a chat with a family doctor. We can see who’s monitoring meds and treatment and if a person is having trouble controlling diabetes we make suggestions to help.”
According to the Alberta Association of Optometrists, only seven per cent of Albertans would see an optometrist for treatment of diabetes. This suggests many are not seeing their optometrist for regular eye exams.
As with any disease, early detection means treatment is more likely to be successful – a worst-case scenario would be complications resulting in eventual blindness.
The longer a person has diabetes, said Wilkinson, the more likely there could be problems. “After the age of 40, vision issues increase and they triple after age 75. If people are unsure, they should see their doctor.
“If I see things that are suspicious I can send a letter to a family doctor, even if it’s mild, just to let them know what I saw during an examination.”
Wilkinson said studies show that the number of people who have diabetes in Canada is 3.4 million; roughly 10 per cent of the population.
“That’s a very large number and prevention is always better.”
Some of the most common signs and symptoms of diabetes include: unusual thirst, frequent urination, weight change (gain or loss), extreme fatigue or lack of energy, blurred or fluctuating vision, frequent or recurring infections, cuts and bruises that are slow to heal, tingling or numbness in the hands or feet and trouble getting or maintaining an erection.
It’s important to recognize that many people who have type 2 diabetes may display no symptoms. The Canadian Diabetes Association recommends that anyone aged 40 and older get checked.
