Daily HealthBeat Tip - January 11, 2007

Diabetes and getting glasses

From the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, I'm Ira Dreyfuss with HHS HealthBeat.

Diabetes can be treated, and part of the treatment is protecting the eyes. But a study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention finds that a lot of people with diabetes who could improve their vision just by getting glasses don't.

The CDC's Dr. Xinzhi Zhang:

"About two-thirds of people with diabetes who have vision problems can benefit from appropriate correction with glasses, contact lenses or surgery." (8 seconds)

Zhang also says people with diabetes need to get a yearly vision check, because diabetes raises their risk of many vision problems, some of which can lead to blindness. These include cataracts, glaucoma, and a condition called diabetic retinopathy, in which the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye is damaged.

It's more reason for people with diabetes to keep their blood sugar under control.

Learn more at www.hhs.gov.

HHS HealthBeat is a production of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. I'm Ira Dreyfuss.

Last revised: January, 11 2007