Anyone with diabetes is at risk for diabetic eye disease, but because signs are generally undetectable until the disease is advanced, many patients go un-treated. The result is impaired vision and, potentially, blindness.
“Optometrists can serve as the first line of detection for diabetes because blurry vision may be the first symptom, and the eye is the only place on the body that blood vessels can be easily seen without having to cut into skin or tissue,” said Marshall B. Ketchum University President Kevin Alexander, O.D., Ph.D. “Fortunately, diabetic retinopathy, a potentially blinding complication of diabetes, can be diagnosed during a dilated eye exam. Early detection of diabetes is critical to maintain healthy vision and decrease the incidence of diabetic complications. As part of the primary medical team, MBKU doctors can diagnose complications early and assist the patient in getting the necessary care to maintain their overall health and wellness,“ concluded President Alexander.
Marshall B. Ketchum University owns and operates two premier eye and vision care centers – University Eye Center at Fullerton located on its campus in Fullerton, CA, and University Eye Center at Los Angeles located on Broadway at Martin Luther King Boulevard near downtown Los Angeles.
“Diabetic patients seen at our clinics will undergo a comprehensive medical eye evaluation. MBKU doctors of optometry utilize leading-edge technology to administer comprehensive evaluations ensuring that the patient is receiving the best available care,” said Vice President for Clinical Affairs & Assistant Professor Dr. Julie Schornack, O.D., M.Ed. “We’re encouraging all of the doctors and staff in the clinic to wear blue on select days throughout November to raise diabetes awareness. We will also distribute diabetes awareness buttons to the staff to encourage dialogue with our patients.”