Baltimore Washington Eye Center Announces Diabetic Eye Disease Awareness Month

GLEN BURNIE, MD, October 27, 2012 (Press-News.org) "November marks an important time to really spread the word about diabetic eye disease given how potentially damaging it is to eye health and vision," stated Baltimore Ophthalmologist Arturo Betancourt, M.D., Medical Director of Baltimore Washington Eye Center. "As eye physicians and surgeons we want to work in concert with patients and their primary care physicians to help patients avoid the complications of diabetic retinopathy, which blinds over 8,000 Americans each year," commented Brad Spagnolo, M.D., Refractive Services Director of Baltimore Washington Eye Center.

The vision loss from diabetic retinopathy can be prevented if it's caught early and treated in time. A recent study found that more than one third of those diagnosed with diabetes do not adhere to vision care guidelines recommending a dilated eye exam every year. As part of Diabetic Eye Disease Awareness Month we are urging people with diabetes to have a dilated eye exam every year. The longer a person has diabetes, the greater his or her risk for developing diabetic retinopathy. However, diabetic retinopathy does not only affect people who have had diabetes for many years, it can also appear within the first year or two after the onset of the disease. Blood sugar levels can weaken blood vessels causing them to break down which causes swelling, hemorrhages and lipid deposits that can ultimately lead to vision loss. More ominous is the effect of the blood vessel breakdown and oxygen deprivation in promoting fragile new blood vessel growth that can easily break resulting in vitreous hemorrhage, retinal detachment and devastating vision impairment. Patients can help to reduce the risk of developing diabetic eye disease by not smoking, controlling their cholesterol and lipid profile and blood pressure, as well as working to eat a heart-healthy diet rich in fish, fruit and green leafy vegetables and exercising.

Baltimore Washington Eye Center is a leading eye care practice serving the greater Baltimore and Washington, D.C. area that staffed by a team of Ophthalmologists, Optometrists, Opticians, technical and administrative staff who provide eye examinations for adults and children, cataract surgery and intraocular lens implants (IOL), laser vision correction such as LASIK, diagnosis and treatment of cornea disease, care for diseases of the retina including diabetes and age related macular degeneration (AMD) and diagnosis and treatment of glaucoma as well as contact lenses, eyeglasses, eyewear and optical services. Baltimore Washington Eye Center is conveniently located for patients from Arbutus, Carney, Catonsville, Clarksville, Columbia, Dundalk, Edgemere, Essex, Ellicott City, Ferndale, Glen Burnie, Kenwood, Laurel, Linthicum, Lutherville, Millersville, Odenton, Olney, Owings Mills, Reisterstown, Towson, Parkville, Randallstown, Rivera Beach, Pasadena, Severna Park, South Gate and Woodlawn Maryland.

To learn more about Baltimore Washington Eye Center you may visit http://www.bweyecenter.com or http://www.facebook.com/baltimorewashingtoneyecenter.

SOURCE: Medical Management Services Group, L.L.C.
http://www.aboutcataractsurgery.com
http://www.seewithlasik.com

For additional information, contact:
Phillip Harrington, Baltimore Washington Eye Center, 200 Hospital Drive, Suite 600, Glen Burnie, Maryland 21061, PHarrington@BWEyecenter.com, 800-495-3937