According to the Canadian Diabetes Association, more than three million children and adults in Canada alone have diabetes. That’s more than 10 per cent of the population.
People with diabetes are at increased risk for eye complications, and most people with diabetes will get some form of retinopathy, a disorder or deterioration of the retina. People with diabetes also have a higher risk of blindness than people without diabetes. The earlier these problems are diagnosed, the more successful the treatments can be.
To aid in this fight, optometrists from Shuswap Optometric Centre, Dr. Robert Allaway, Dr. Alan Ewanyshyn, Dr. Tracy Thompson, and Dr. Lauren Koch are joining with optometrists across the country to raise awareness of this problem and its treatability. Throughout November, Shuswap Optometric Centre will be providing a variety of educational and awareness building efforts for patients in the hope of diagnosing this disorder before it affects their sight.
“You will see this topic featured on our website at www.shuswapoptometric.ca as well as our Facebook page as we try to reach as many of our community members as possible,” says Dr. Allaway of Shuswap Optometric Centre, with offices in Salmon Arm and Chase. “This is a very preventable and treatable disorder and education is our best weapon.”
Also during the month of November, Shuswap Optometric Centre will be donating $5 for every diabetic eye exam they perform and another $1 to the Canadian Diabetes Association for each Facebook “like” they receive on their fan page.