News
Diabetic Eye Disease Rates Increase in U.S. Population
Number is projected to increase to approximately 11 million people by 2030
D
iabetes affects nearly 26 million people in the Unit-
ed States. In addition, another 79 million people are
estimated to have pre-diabetes, a condition that puts
people at increased risk for diabetes. All people with dia-
betes, both type 1 and type 2, are at risk for diabetic eye dis-
ease, a leading cause of vision loss and blindness.
Diabetic eye disease refers to a group of eye problems
that people with diabetes may face as a complication of the
disease and includes cataract, diabetic retinopathy, and
glaucoma. Diabetic retinopathy, the most common diabetic
eye disease, is the leading cause of blindness in adults
20–74 years of age. According to the National Eye Institute
(NEI), 7.7 million people age 40 and older have diabetic
retinopathy and this number is projected to increase to
approximately 11 million people by 2030.
“The longer a person has diabetes the greater is his or her
risk of developing diabetic eye disease,” said Paul A. Siev-
ing, M.D., Ph.D., director of the NEI. “If you have diabetes,
be sure to have a comprehensive dilated eye exam at least
once a year. Diabetic eye disease often has no early warn-
ing signs, but can be detected early and treated before
vision loss occurs. Don’t wait until you notice an eye prob-
lem to have an exam because vision that is lost often cannot
be restored.”
While all people with diabetes can develop diabetic eye
disease, African Americans, American Indians/Alaska
Natives, and Hispanics/Latinos with diabetes are at higher
risk of losing vision or going blind from it. All people with
diabetes should have a dilated eye exam at least once a year
to detect vision problems early. “In fact, with early detec-
tion, timely laser surgery, and appropriate follow-up care,
people with advanced diabetic retinopathy can reduce their
risk of blindness by 90 percent,” adds Suber Huang, M.D.,
M.B.A., chair of the Diabetic Eye Disease Subcommittee
for the NEI’s National Eye Health Education Program.
Research has shown that when people with diabetes main-
tain good control of blood sugar, blood pressure, and cho-
lesterol they can slow the development and progression of
diabetic eye disease. In addition to having annual compre-
hensive dilated eye exams, people with diabetes should do
the following to keep their health on TRACK:
· Take your medications.
· Reach and maintain a healthy weight.
· Add physical activity to your daily routine.
· Control your blood sugar, blood pressure, and choles-
terol.
· Kick the smoking habit.
NEI supports more than $40 million in diabetes research
and outreach, including the Diabetic Retinopathy Clinical
Research Network (DRCR.net), a collaboration of more
than 300 physicians at more than 100 clinical sites across
the United States.
For more information on diabetic eye disease and tips on
finding an eye care professional or financial assistance for
eye care, visit www.nei.nih.gov/diabetes or call NEI at 301-
496-5248.
The National Eye Institute (NEI), part of the National
Institutes of Health, leads the federal government’s research
on the visual system and eye diseases. NEI supports basic
and clinical science programs that result in the development
of sight-saving treatments. For more information, visit
www.nei.nih.gov.
About the National Institutes of Health (NIH): NIH, the
Nation’s medical research agency, includes 27 Institutes
and Centers and is a component of the U.S. Department of
Health and Human Services. NIH is the primary federal
agency conducting and supporting basic, clinical, and trans-
lational medical research, and is investigating the causes,
treatments, and cures for both common and rare diseases.
For more information about NIH and its programs, visit
www.nih.gov.
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Page 6 The Seattle Skanner November 14, 2012