Diabetics more likely to skip eye exams

Despite having a higher risk of developing serious eye diseases that could potentially rob them of their vision, nearly 60 percent of diabetics do not have yearly eye exams. Diabetics are at a greater risk of losing their vision to diabetic retinopathy and the disease can lead to additional blinding eye problems if not caught early and treated. Researchers reviewed the records of almost 2,000 patients aged 40 and older who had type 1 or type 2 diabetes to determine how many had regular eye exams. Over a four-year period, they found that 58% of patients did not have regular yearly eye exams, and those who had less-severe diabetes without vision problems were least likely to follow recommendations. Yearly eye exams play a crucial part in maintaining eye health in diabetics. A complete eye exam can highlight hidden signs of disease and enable early diagnosis and treatment to begin. Regular eye exams can prevent up to 95 percent of diabetes-related vision loss.*