November is Diabetic Eye Awareness Month!

The importance of a retinal health check

Diabetic eye disease is a group of eye problems that people with diabetes may face as a complication of the disease.

Anyone with diabetes is at risk for vision loss or blindness from diabetic eye disease. Unfortunately, diabetic eye disease has no warning signs, however, early detection and timely treatment can help reduce the risks. An annual, comprehensive dilated eye examination is one of the best ways to detect early signs of diabetic eye disease.

The National Eye Institute recommends five simple steps to help manage diabetes:

• T ake your medications as prescribed by your doctor.
• R each and maintain a healthy weight
• A dd more physical activity to your daily routine
• C ontrol your ABCs--A1C, blood pressure and cholesterol levels
• K ick the smoking habit

A team-based approach to DR management

Diabetes is a "head to toe" disease that requires constant monitoring and management. The onset of diabetes may often affect multiple body systems, including vision. The reverse may also be true. The onset of diabetic retinopathy or diabetic nephropathy is often the first indication that the patient is diabetic. This calls for a multi-specialty approach to the management of diabetes.

For diabetic patients, early detection is the key to successful disease management. By integrating into our practice advanced imaging technologies like OCT and *Ultra-Widefield Imaging *, our doctors now have ability to manage diabetic eye diseases earlier, quicker and with more confidence. The result—getting ahead of the problem and setting up our clients for a better outcome.

Call us for a consult at 704-821-5009 for us to get in touch with you