These days, everyone knows someone who has diabetes. In fact, according to the American Diabetes Association, nearly 24 million children and adults in the United

States have been diagnosed with some type of diabetes. November is American Diabetes Month and its goal is to provide education to keep more Americans from falling prey to this destructive disease.

One of the ways diabetes can take its toll is on the eyes. Changes to the eyes from diabetes is one of the leading causes of blindness in adults.

Diabetes is a disease that interferes with the body's ability to use and store sugar, which can cause many health problems. Too much sugar in the blood can cause damage throughout the body, including the eyes. Over time, diabetes affects the circulatory system of the retina.

Diabetic retinopathy is the result of damage to the tiny blood vessels that nourish the retina. They leak blood and other fluids that cause swelling of retinal tissue and clouding of vision. The condition usually affects both eyes. The longer a person has diabetes, the more likely they will develop diabetic retinopathy. If left untreated, diabetic retinopathy can cause blindness.

Symptoms of diabetic retinopathy include:

• Seeing spots or floaters in your field of vision
• Blurred vision
• Having a dark or empty spot in the center of your vision
• Difficulty seeing well at night

In patients with diabetes, prolonged periods of high blood sugar can lead to the accumulation of fluid in the lens inside the eye that controls eye focusing. This changes the curvature of the lens and results in the development of symptoms of blurred vision.

The blurring of distance vision as a result of lens swelling will subside once the blood sugar levels are brought under control. Better control of blood
sugar levels in patients with diabetes also slows the onset and progression of diabetic retinopathy.

Often there are no visual symptoms in the early stages of diabetic retinopathy. That is why the American Optometric Association recommends that everyone with diabetes have a comprehensive dilated eye examination once a year. Early detection and treatment can limit the potential for significant vision loss from diabetic retinopathy.

Having your eyes dilated yearly when you're diabetic is you the best way
to monitor for diabetic retinopathy. The dilating drops are painless and the amount
of information we gather regarding the overall control of your diabetes is staggering.

You've heard the old adage that "the eyes are the window the soul." In a diabetic's case, it's a window to his or her overall well being.

David Rocks,OD, founded Advanced Eyecare Clinic  in Lake in the Hills over five years ago and specializes in family eye care as well as treatment of ocular disease. Dr. Rocks is a member of the Illinois Optometric Association, the American Optometric Association and is currently training for his first half-marathon this spring.