Press Release                  October 22, 2008

New Treatments for Diabetic Eye Disease
November is Diabetic Eye Disease Awareness Month

Louisville, Ky. . . Diabetic Retinopathy is the leading cause of legal blindness among adults in the United States.  There are new treatments now available for diabetic retinopathy including treatment with the drug Avastin and a procedure called Pan Retinal Photocoagulation.  There are approximately 29 million Americans that have diabetes and a common misconception among people with diabetes is “If I can see well, there’s nothing wrong with my eyes.”  That’s false confidence.

If you have diabetes, you’re at risk for diabetic retinopathy, even if you don’t have any vision problems.  Diabetic Retinopathy causes abnormal new blood vessels to rupture and bleed inside the eye.    To draw awareness to the disease and to the new treatment, November is recognized as National Diabetic Eye Disease Month. 

 "I can’t emphasize enough the importance of an annual dilated eye exam for diabetics. Nearly half of all people with known diabetes have some degree of diabetic retinopathy.  The longer you have diabetes, the more likely it is you’ll develop diabetic retinopathy.  Initially, most people with the disease experience only mild vision problems, but the condition can worsen and threaten your vision,” said Dr. Brian Kritchman, ophthalmologist with the Taustine Eye Center.

Avastin is an inexpensive drug that has been very effective in treating the disease.  Pan Retinal Photocoagulation is where a special laser is used to make tiny burns that seal the retina and stop vessels from growing and leaking; this reduces the risk of vitreous hemorrhage and retinal detachment.

Symptoms of diabetic retinopathy include:

• “Spiders,” “cobwebs” or tiny specks floating in your vision
• Dark streaks or a red film that blocks vision
• Vision loss or blurred vision
• A dark or empty spot in center of your vision
• Poor night vision
• Difficulty adjusting from bright light to dim light
 

In its early stages diabetic retinopathy has no symptoms or pain.  “The disease can even progress to an advanced state without any noticeable change in your vision.  That’s why early detection of the disease is your best protection against vision loss,” said Dr. Kritchman.
See your doctor promptly if your vision becomes blurry, spotty or hazy.  “If diabetic retinopathy is found, the course of treatment depends on the severity of the condition and whether your vision is currently impaired or threatened by retinal changes,” concluded Dr. Kritchman.

Contact: Pam Gersh
327-0407/419-3001
pgersh@insightbb.com