November is Diabetic Eye Disease Awareness Month, an effort dedicated to providing education about the risks, symptoms, and impact of diseases such as diabetic retinopathy. This annual campaign is especially timely as U.S. and global diabetes rates continue to climb.
“By educating patients on how to prevent vision loss from diabetes and implementing systems and programs that increase access to eye care across the United States, we will empower millions of patients with diabetes to avoid unnecessary vision loss and blindness.”
National Initiatives
One organization at the forefront of this effort is Prevent Blindness, which launched several free resources for eye care providers (ECPs) and patients. These include fact sheets, multilingual, social media graphics, educational videos and a new Eye Health Audio Library with free access to eye health information in English and Spanish.
“By educating patients on how to prevent vision loss from diabetes and implementing systems and programs that increase access to eye care across the United States, we will empower millions of patients with diabetes to avoid unnecessary vision loss and blindness,” said Rajeev S. Ramchandran, MD, MBA, associate professor of ophthalmology at University of Rochester Flaum Eye Institute and member of the Prevent Blindness Diabetes + the Eyes Advisory Committee.
The National Eye Institute is also reinforcing this month’s theme. Its website offers resources such as infographics, videos, webinars, podcasts, and a virtual reality app that simulates the experience of living with vision loss resulting from these diseases.
Prevalence and Public Awareness
Diabetic eye disease remains highly prevalent and underdiagnosed. Approximately one in four Americans age 40 and older with diabetes has diabetic retinopathy, and Black (8.7%) and Hispanic (7.1%) adults with diabetes are at a higher risk compared to White diabetics (3.6%). These statistics underscore the importance of increasing public understanding of the risks and necessity for routine screening in order to limit delays in diagnosing disease
Routine Exams and Advances in Treatment
To start these education efforts, patients should understand that many diabetics who develop eye diseases do not experience early symptoms. This makes annual eye exams crucial. Routine monitoring can lead to early detection, which allows for timely intervention to help prevent permanent damage and vision loss.
Beyond regular exams, recent innovations are being used to identify, monitor, and treat patients. One recent example is the use of artificial intelligence to analyze images and help spot retinal changes. For those diagnosed with diabetic retinopathy, the number of options continues to grow, including intraocular injections, laser therapy, and surgery. In addition, with ongoing research into new drug therapies and delivery systems offers further hope for better patient outcomes.