Eye disease and the older diabetic

Clin Geriatr Med. 2008 Aug;24(3):515-27, vii. doi: 10.1016/j.cger.2008.03.002.

Abstract

Elderly diabetic persons are 1.5 times more likely than age-matched nondiabetic persons to develop vision loss and blindness. Annually, between 12,000 and 24,000 diabetic patients in the United States become legally blind because of complications caused by diabetic retinopathy. Even more diabetic persons experience vision loss caused by comorbid ocular and periocular conditions such as dry eye syndrome, cataracts, macular degeneration, and glaucoma. This article discusses the synergy between these conditions and diabetes. Standards of care that slow the progression of vision loss and exciting new research on new strategies of care that may reverse vision loss are presented.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Diabetes Complications / diagnosis
  • Diabetes Complications / etiology*
  • Diabetes Complications / therapy
  • Eye Diseases / diagnosis
  • Eye Diseases / etiology*
  • Eye Diseases / therapy
  • Humans
  • Risk Factors
  • Vision Disorders / diagnosis
  • Vision Disorders / etiology*
  • Vision Disorders / therapy