HHS HealthBeat (November 21, 2011)

Eyes wide open

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

When you look at how to deal with diabetes, you need to have someone look at your eyes. The blood sugar condition can lead to damage in the tiny blood vessels that feed the eye, and to the retina, which is the light-sensing tissue at the back of the eye. 

Dr. Suber Huang, a Cleveland, Ohio, ophthalmologist, works with an eye-care education program supported by the National Eye Institute. He says it’s important to get an annual eye exam:

``Often, diabetes can begin to cause damage to the retina without causing visual loss. It’s important to notice these problems before vision is lost.’’ (9 seconds)

This could include a dilated eye exam, in which the eye doctor puts drops in the eye to widen the pupil, so the doctor can get a better look at the eye.

Learn more at hhs.gov.

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

Last revised: November 21, 2011