EYE AND VISION CARE

Free diabetes vision care is offered in many communities for diabetics with no healthcare insurance, those with lower incomes or older persons with this chronic disease.  Vision care is extremely important to manage for the diabetic.

Diabetes is a disease where the body is not able to metabolize glucose in the blood.  Type-1 diabetes is caused by the damage of Beta islet cells located in the pancreas.  When working properly these cells usually secretes insulin but for people with Type-1 diabetes these cells are not working. Type-1 diabetics will need to be on insulin therapy for the rest of their lives.  Type-2 diabetes is cause by the destruction of insulin receptors on cell surfaces which causes the cells to be resistant to insulin.  Type-2 diabetes can be managed with lifestyle changes and medication and in some cases with lifestyle changes alone.

In the eyes of diabetics, an eye disease called diabetic retinopathy can develop which can lead to bad vision and even blindness.  This happens because of the narrowing of blood vessels located in the back of the eyes. These vessels get weak and lead to blood and fluid leaking into the retina from these weak blood vessels.  The retina is the part of the eye that sends visual images to the brain.

There are two classes of diabetic retinopathy - non-proliferative and proliferative.  Non-proliferative happens because of the blood vessel walls weaken and become porous. The small capillaries even can become blocked.  Blocked vessels interfere with areas of the retina from being able to get oxygen.  This causes blurring but not often complete blindness and in the majority of diabetics, vision never goes further than very mild changes. But this blurring can become very severe. Diabetics with non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy can develop new vessel growth on the surface of the retina and move into proliferative diabetic retinopathy quite easily.

Proliferative diabetic retinopathy causes the new but extremely weak blood vessels from the retina to rupture and bleed into the gel filling the eye.  This interrupts the eye's ability to manage light images.  Scar tissue forms and shrinks. This shrinkage pulls at the retina causing a form of retinal detachment.  When the retina detaches you need to have surgery to reattach the retina but because of poor blood circulation surgery is difficult to heal from. Detached retinas that are permanent can lead to permanent blindness.

Because of these problems with the eyes, diabetic patients need to have regular eye exams involving dilation of the eyes so the eye professional can better examine the blood vessels in the back of the eyes.  This is so eye problems can be caught and treated early. This is why in many communities, diabetes who can't afford regular eye exams are offered free vision care.

Free diabetes vision care is offered in many communities for diabetics who are unable to afford regular vision care.  Vision care is extremely important to manage for the diabetic.

Drink lots of water because it is calorie free and helps to flush away the toxins. Did you know that flavored carbonated water has no calories, sugar, body, sweetener, color or preservatives?