In a medical column in Florida's Palm Beach Post (8/17), Andrew A. Moshfeghi, MD, of the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, explained, "The longer you have diabetes, the greater your risk of developing diabetic eye disease, which is the leading cause of blindness in young and middle-aged adults." Dr. Moshfeghi pointed out that "diabetic eye disease" may include "diabetic retinopathy -- damage to the blood vessels in the retina," as well as glaucoma and cataracts. He provided tips for patients with diabetes to "promote good eye health," including eating well, maintaining "a healthy weight," getting "regular physical activity," taking medicines as prescribed, monitoring "blood sugar daily" and keeping "daily blood sugar less than 140," quitting smoking, and getting "a dilated eye exam once a year." Eye examinations are particularly important, he wrote, because "finding eye problems early and getting treatment right away will help prevent more serious problems later on."
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