Diabetic patients often skip eye exams

The survey also found that nearly 80% of Americans did not know diabetes could cause blindness, while more than half were ignorant of the fact an eye test could accurately detect the disease.The nationwide 2016 American Eye-Q Survey by the American Optometric Association (AOA), designed to promote eye health education, also found that blindness is the most-feared effect of the disease.“In 2014 alone, eye doctors found diabetes-related manifestations in 240,000 patients who were not aware they had diabetes, leading to a prompt diagnosis and care which minimises the risk of complications,” AOA President Dr Andrea Thau said.“A comprehensive eye examination with a doctor of optometry is important not just to maintain eye and vision health, but it can be the first line of diagnosis for many systic diseases.”Thau also pointed out online diagnostic applications could only check for astigmatism, near and far-sightedness, but not diabetes.“When the eyes are dilated, an eye doctor is able to examine the retina for signs of diabetic eye disease and prescribe a course of treatment to help preserve an individual’s sight,” she said.“Many eye probls show no symptoms until they are in an advanced stage, but early detection and treatment can truly save a person’s vision. No online app can do that.”Diabetes is the leading cause of blindness worldwide and, according to the International Diabetes Federation, by 2040 one in 10 people around the world will be affected by the disease.