Posts Tagged ‘diabetes’
Posted on January 19th, 2010 by Melissa W.
Vito Franco, Professor of Pathological Anatomy at the University of Palermo, thinks so. In fact, he released a statement last week saying the painting of Mona Lisa shows signs of cholesterol around her left eye.
This got me thinking about another connection between eyes and high cholesterol. An eye doctor can actually see signs of high cholesterol during an eye exam. Cholesterol flows through your blood stream and can cause a yellowish build-up in your blood vessels. When an eye doctor dilates your eyes, your pupils become bigger allowing your doctor to have a closer look inside your eyes. Your blood vessels can tell a lot about your overall health. In addition to signs of high cholesterol, doctors can also see signs of diabetes, high blood pressure and more.
It amazes me to realize an eye doctor not only tests to make sure I’m seeing clearly, but also checks my eyes to make sure they’re healthy. An eye exam allows me to take a proactive step in my overall healthcare routine. With today’s technology, it’s important to take advantage of opportunities for preventive care instead of just waiting for the day when treatment is required.
Da Vinci began painting the Mona Lisa in 1503. Eyecare certainly has come a long way since then, and I’m so appreciative of the preventive aspects of this exam. If you’d like to see what vision care was like back when Mona Lisa was alive, check out this interactive timeline of vision history.
Related Links:
TIME article – Did Mona Lisa Suffer from High Cholesterol?
Eyecare Discovery Center article – Eye Exam: New Lease on Life
Picture of Mona Lisa via Wikipedia.
File under: eye health | Tagged: blood streem, Blood vessels, Cholesterol, diabetes, dilate, eye exam, eye exams, health paintings, high cholesterol, Leonardo Da Vinci, Mona Lisa, mona lisa eyes, preventive care, University of Palermo, vision history, Vito Franco
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Posted on November 9th, 2009 by Liz B.
Joel Kestenbaum O.D. is a VSP provider in Long Island, NY.
In recognition of Diabetes Awareness Month, Dr. Joel Kestenbaum has shared some thoughts regarding diabetes and eyecare. VSP is a proud National Strategic Partner of the American Diabetes Association. Join the fight. STOP Diabetes.
One of the first lessons I learned in optometry school was that diabetes was a leading cause of blindness. We were taught that early diagnosis was the key to preserving good eyesight. We were also taught that educating our patients about the effects of diabetes on the eye was extremely important. So here are a few tidbits to think about.
There are many early signs of diabetes, many of which are common eye complaints. Styes, double vision, light sensitivity, fluctuating vision, glare and frequent changes in eyeglass prescriptions are just a few early signs. These and other signs can also affect people who have had diabetes for a long time. Getting annual eye examinations by a qualified specialist can detect problems that may be vision threatening. Early detection can lead to early sight saving treatment. Read more »
File under: diabetes | Tagged: American Diabetes Association, diabetes, Diabetes Awareness Month, eye diseases, eye health, healthcare, private practice eye doctors, STOP Diabetes, vision
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Posted on November 2nd, 2009 by Liz B.
Liz B. is a member of VSP's Corporate Public Relations team.
November is Diabetes Awareness Month and as a National Strategic Partner of the American Diabetes Association (ADA), VSP is committed to joining to the fight to STOP DIABETES.
Studies show that diabetes accounts for about 24,000 new cases of vision loss each year. The most prevalent eye disease in patients with diabetes is diabetic retinopathy, a condition in which blood vessels in the eye leak fluid and cause vision impairments including: blindness, blurred vision, floaters, shadows or missing areas of vision.
It is imperative that people with diabetes have annual eye exams as most diabetes-related blindness can be avoided.
Throughout the month of November, you’ll see multiple posts on the VSPBlog educating about the impacts of diabetes to millions of Americans affected by the disease. Read more »
File under: diabetes | Tagged: American Diabetes Association, blurred vision, diabetes, Diabetes Awareness Month, diabetes-related blindness, diabetic retinopathy, eye diseases, eye exams, eyecare, floaters, healthcare, missing areas of vision, STOP Diabetes, Type 1 diabetes, Type 2 Diabetes
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Do you know if you’re at risk for developing type 2 diabetes? Studies have shown that type 2 diabetes can be prevented or delayed by losing just 5-7% of body weight through regular physical activity and healthy eating. However, 57 million Americans currently have pre-diabetes. That’s one in every five people! Pre-diabetes places you at increased risk for developing type 2 diabetes, and, if current trends continue, one out of three children born today will face a future with diabetes.
