In a new study, researchers found that eye diseases have become a heavy health burden in people with diabetes.
Eye disorders frequently affect diabetic patients aged 45 years and older, and eye disorders are more common for those with diagnosed diabetes for 10 years or more.
The research was reported by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National Center for Health Statistics.
In the study, the team analyzed data of people aged 45 years and older with diagnosed diabetes.
These people were told by a doctor or other health professional that they had cataracts, diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, or macular degeneration and vision loss due to diabetes.
with cataracts, diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, or macular degeneration and associated vision loss by years since diagnosis of diabetes.
They found among people aged 45 and over with diagnosed diabetes, more than 30% had cataracts, and 9% had vision loss due to cataracts.
In addition, among people aged 45 and over with diagnosed diabetes, 32.2% had cataracts, and 9.2% had vision loss due to cataracts.
People who have had diagnosed diabetes for 10 years or more were more likely to have vision loss due to cataracts than those having diagnosed diabetes for less than 10 years.
The team also found diabetic retinopathy was nearly three times higher among adults aged 45 and over who had a diagnosis of diabetes for 10 years or more compared with less than 10 years.
Furthermore, glaucoma increased with increasing duration since diabetes diagnosis among adults aged 45 and over with diagnosed diabetes.
The team says eye disorders are a frequent complication from diabetes. People with diabetes should have a comprehensive eye examination by an ophthalmologist or optometrist within five years after receiving a diabetes diagnosis.
The lead author of the study is Amy E. Cha, Ph.D., M.P.H., from the National Center for Health Statistics.
The study is published in NCHS Publications and Information Products Data Briefs.
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