Out of Sight, Out of Mind

An unseen complication of diabetes

A GLOBAL EPIDEMIC

WHO IS AT RISK?

WHAT IS DIABETIC RETINOPATHY?

THERE ARE NO EARLY SYMPTOMS

WHAT CAN YOU DO? 3,8

There are approximately

by 2045 this number is projected to grow to

629 million.¹

425 million peoplein the world living with diabetes...

2045

#1Diabetic retinopathy is the number one cause of blindness among working-age adults.²

Diabetic retinopathy occurs when high blood sugar levels damage tiny blood vessels in the retina causing them to leak or hemorrhage, ultimately distorting vision once progressed to severe levels.

There are typically no symptoms in the early stages of diabetic retinopathy, allowing the disease to progress until it affects vision. Once symptoms appear, vision loss may be permanent, even with treatment.Symptoms that indicate advanced stages of diabetic retinopathy:

Even though 95% of vision loss cases are preventable with early detection and treatment,³ only about half of patients with diabetes visit the eye specialist for annual retinal exams.⁵,⁶

All diabetic patients should receive an annual diabetic retinal exam with an ophthalmologist or optometrist.

If you have not had a diabetic retinal exam by an ophthalmologist or optometrist in the past 12 months, you may be able to receive a teleretinal exam as part of your regular doctor visit. Offering teleretinal exams in your doctor’s office helps ensure those who need a diabetic retinal exam get checked every year.⁷

Diabetic macular edema is the buildup of fluid in the macula. DME is a consequence of diabetic retinopathy and is responsible for about 50% of vision loss associated with diabetic retinopathy.³

80% of diabetic patients, type 1 and type 2, will eventually develop some stage of diabetic retinopathy.⁴

The longer a person has diabetes, the more likely they are to develop diabetic retinopathy.

Diabetic RetinopathyNormal Eye

80%of patients

Advanced Diabetic Retinopathy

Normal Vision

• Blurry vision

• Halos around lights

• Loss of central vision

• Loss of color vision

• Floating spots

EARLY DETECTION IS KEY

HOW TELERETINAL IMAGING CAN HELP

50 - 60%

Take prescribed medications

Avoid tobacco use Manage blood pressure and cholesterol

Focus on healthy eating

Exercise on a regular basis Manage your weight Receive an annual comprehensive eye exam

+

References¹ IDF Diabetes Atlas, Eighth Edition 2017, page 9. www.idf.org

² CDC Vision Health Initiative (VHI), Common Eye Disorders. www.cdc.gov/visionhealth/basics/ced/index.html

3 National Eye Institute, Facts about Diabetic Eye Disease. https://nei.nih.gov/health/diabetic/retinopathy

⁴ American Academy of Ophthalmology Retina/Vitreous Panel. Preferred Practice Pattern® Guidelines. Diabetic Retinopathy. San Francisco, CA: American Academy of Ophthalmology; 2014. Available at: www.aao.org/ppp. Accessed May 30, 2017.

⁵ Monitoring Visual Status: Why Patients Do or Do Not Comply with Practice Guidelines; Frank A. Sloan, Derek S. Brown, Emily Streyer Carlisle, Gabriel A. Picone, and Paul P. Lee; HSR: Health Services Research 39:5 (October 2004)

⁶ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Diabetes Report Card 2017. Atlanta, GA: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, US Dept of Health and Human Services; 2018.

⁷ Comparing the Effectiveness of Telemedicine and Traditional Surveillance in Providing Diabetic Retinopathy Screening Examinations: A Randomized Controlled Trial; Mansberger et al, Telemedicine and e-Health, Vol. 19 No. 12, Dec. 2013.

⁸ American Academy of Ophthalmology. Top Five Steps to Help Prevent Diabetic Eye Diseases. https://www.aao.org/eye-health/tips-prevention/top-five-diabetes-steps. Accessed October 4, 2018.

Save your sight. Speak with your doctor to learn more about the benefits of teleretinal

exams and comprehensive eye exams by an eye specialist. As always, be sure to follow your doctor’s treatment plan.

www.welchallyn.com

Newly Formed Blood Vessels

Cornea

Iris

Pupil

Hemorrhages

MicroaneurysmsRetinal Blood Vessels

Retina

Fovea

Macula

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