Diabetes Eye Q Quiz. 1) Diabetes is the leading cause of new blindness among adults in the US under the age of 74.

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Arthur Wilkinson
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1 Diabetes Eye Q Quiz From 1997 to 2011, the number of adults with diagnosed diabetes who reported visual impairment, that is, trouble seeing even with their glasses or contact lenses, increased from 2.7 million to 4.0 million," according to the CDC. Don't let this be you. Take control today. See how you fare in this diabetic eye disease quiz and then schedule your next eye exam today. Reviewed by Jason C. Baker, MD., 5/13 1) Diabetes is the leading cause of new blindness among adults in the US under the age of 74. Correct The answer is true. People with diabetes are 25 times more likely to become blind than people without it. The frequency and degree of high blood sugar in people with diabetes eventually cause the walls of the blood vessels to thicken and lose their elasticity. The weakened walls are then susceptible to leaks. Any small amounts of fluid that leak from the damaged blood vessels can cause a reduction in vision (called diabetic macular edema), as can development of fibrous scar tissue from the growth of abnormal, new blood vessels that can lead to the detachment of the retina (called proliferative diabetic retinopathy). 2) Diabetes-related eye diseases include: d) All of the above Diabetic retinopathy is when there is damage to the blood vessels in the retina. Cataract is a clouding of the eye's lens. Cataracts develop at an earlier age in people with diabetes. "#$%&

Glaucoma is an increase in fluid pressure inside the eye that leads to optic nerve damage and loss of vision. A person with diabetes is nearly twice as likely to get glaucoma as other adults.

2 Glaucoma is an increase in fluid pressure inside the eye that leads to optic nerve damage and loss of vision. A person with diabetes is nearly twice as likely to get glaucoma as other adults. 3) This is an example of: Correct Most studies say that 20-30% of those with diagnosed diabetes have some degree of diabetic retinopathy. The National Eye Institute says it is as high as 40-45% Diabetic retinopathy occurs when the blood vessels leading to the retina of the eye become blocked and/or leak fluid or blood (hemorrhage) into the eye. 4) Diabetic retinopathy is the most common serious visual complication associated with diabetes. Correct The answer is true. Anyone with diabetes can develop vision complications. Dry eye is the most common complication for people with diabetes but the most serious visual "#$%'

3 complication is diabetic retinopathy. The longer someone has diabetes, the more likely he or she will develop diabetic retinopathy. Diabetic retinopathy has four stages: 1. Mild Nonproliferative Retinopathy. At this earliest stage, microaneurysms occur. They are small areas of balloon-like swelling in the retina's tiny blood vessels. 2. Moderate Nonproliferative Retinopathy. As the disease progresses, some blood vessels within the retina begin to leak blood and serum. 3. Severe Nonproliferative Retinopathy. Many more blood vessels are damaged, depriving areas of the retina of their blood supply. These areas of the retina send signals to the body to grow new blood vessels for nourishment. 4. Proliferative Retinopathy. At this advanced stage, the signals sent by the retina for nourishment trigger the growth of new blood vessels. This condition is called proliferative retinopathy. These new blood vessels are abnormal and fragile. They grow along the retina and along the surface of the clear, vitreous gel that fills the inside of the eye. By themselves, these blood vessels do not cause symptoms or vision loss. However, they have thin, fragile walls. If they leak blood and/or if fibrous scar tissue associated with these abnormal blood vessels damage the retina, severe vision loss and even blindness can result. 5) Laser surgery can halt the progression of sight-threatening diabetic retinopathy (macular edema and proliferative retinopathy). Correct The answer is true. In laser surgery, a special beam of light is used to shrink the abnormal blood vessels or seal leaking blood vessels. Laser surgery has been proven to reduce the five-year risk of vision loss from advanced diabetic retinopathy by more than 90 percent. "#$%(

The damage first causes you to lose sight from the sides of your eyes and, if left untreated, can lead to severe vision loss and blindness.

4 6) This is an example of: Correct The answer is glaucoma. Glaucoma starts from pressure building up in the eye. Over time, this pressure damages your eye's main nerve-the optic nerve. The damage first causes you to lose sight from the sides of your eyes and, if left untreated, can lead to severe vision loss and blindness. Treating glaucoma is usually simple. Your eye care professional will give you special drops to use every day to lower the pressure in your eye. Or your eye care professional may recommend laser surgery or glaucoma 'filtering' surgery, depending upon the particular type of glaucoma you have. 7) This is an example of: "#$%)

5 Correct The answer is cataract. People with diabetes are twice as likely to develop cataracts and to develop them at an earlier age than are those without diabetes. Cataracts can usually be treated with surgery. During surgery your lens is taken out and a plastic lens, like a contact lens, is put in. The plastic lens stays in your eye all the time. 8) Diabetic eye disease usually has early warning signs. Correct The answer is false. Often there are no symptoms in the early stages of the disease, nor is there any pain. Vision may not change until the disease becomes severe. So don't wait for symptoms. Be sure to have a comprehensive dilated eye exam at least once a year. 9) If a person with diabetes loses their vision, self-care is no longer possible. Correct The answer is false. People with severe vision loss, and even those who become totally blind can accurately draw up insulin, monitor blood glucose levels, etc. "Limitations" are often self-imposed, and the most important step necessary to overcome negative thinking is knowing where to go for information and where to get help. Some equipment (e.g. audio output devices, tactile insulin syringes, and a host of sophisticated magnification devices) has been adapted for people who are blind. "#$%*

6 By using alternative techniques and products, people with vision loss can control their diabetes as efficiently as do their sighted peers. 10) Once eye disease starts, it cannot be stopped. Correct The answer is false. Controlling your blood sugar is one way to help prevent diabetic eye disease or its progression. Controlling elevated blood pressure and cholesterol can also reduce the risk of vision loss. People who have good control of their diabetes are at much lower risk for diabetic eye disease. Results You got correct out of 10 The American Diabetes Association suggests that people with diabetes get a dilated eye exam at least once a year to detect signs of eye disease early. To learn more about diabetes and eye disease, check out our information about diabetes complications. Sources: National Eye Institute, accessed 9/18/07. National Diabetes Information Clearing House, accessed 9/18/07. World Health Organization, accessed 9/18/07 "#$%+

Diabetic retinopathy damage to the blood vessels in the retina. Cataract clouding of the eye s lens. Cataracts develop at an earlier age in people

Diabetic retinopathy damage to the blood vessels in the retina. Cataract clouding of the eye s lens. Cataracts develop at an earlier age in people Diabetic Retinopathy What is diabetic eye disease? Diabetic eye disease refers to a group of eye problems that people with diabetes may face as a complication of diabetes. All can cause severe vision loss