BIFocals? - Henry Ford Health System

NEWS
FROM OUR
PARTNERS IN
OPHTHALMOLOGY
Diabetes and Your Eyes:
Focus on Retinopathy
Diabetes is the leading cause
of blindness in the U.S. It
increases the risk for eye
conditions such as glaucoma
and cataracts, as well as
diabetic retinopathy.
“Retinopathy, a common diabetesrelated
eye condition, affects the
retina — the light-sensitive tissue at
the back of the eye,” says Henry Ford
ophthalmologist Robert M. Levine,
M.D. “At first, patients may not have
symptoms. But over time, their vision
gets worse if the eyes’ blood vessels
swell and leak fluid or abnormal
vessels grow on the retina.”
If diabetic retinopathy is
identified early (see sidebar), vision
loss can be prevented. Controlling
your blood sugar, blood pressure,
and cholesterol levels can help.
However, if you have
retinopathy that’s already
progressed, the good news is
Henry Ford offers the latest
treatments, including:
• Injections — Two injectable
medications, Lucentis and Avastin,
have been shown in studies to
successfully slow the growth of
abnormal vessels that leak blood
and fluid behind the retina.
• Lasers — Advanced laser
technology can shrink abnormal
blood vessels.
• Surgery — A procedure called
vitrectomy may be performed to
remove excess blood and fluid.
Henry Ford Medical Group eye
surgeons use an approach that
doesn’t require stitches and that
results in better outcomes than
traditional surgery.
Henry Ford has one of the
largest centers in the country for
the screening, treatment, and
research of diabetes-related eye
diseases. To learn more or to
make an appointment with an
ophthalmologist, call
1-800-363-7575.
Catching
Retinopathy Early
In most cases, diabetic retinopathy can
be detected during a comprehensive dilated
eye exam. The American Academy of
Ophthalmology recommends the following
screening schedule:
> Type 1 diabetes: within five years of being
diagnosed with diabetes, then annually
> Type 2 diabetes: at the time you are
diagnosed with diabetes, then annually
> Pregnant women with diabetes:
during your first trimester
| 1-800-EYE-CARE (1-800-393-2273)
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>
Dearborn Grand Opening
a Huge Success!
On November 14, 2011, Henry Ford OptimEyes proudly opened its newest
Super Vision Center in Dearborn.
The new Super Vision Center brings comprehensive eye care — including care
for kids — to the Dearborn community. An on-site, full-service lab means the Super
Vision Center can provide same-day glasses and fill most prescriptions, and the
optometrists and ophthalmologists staffing the Dearborn Super Vision Center are
here to treat complex cases and help people with conditions such as diabetes,
cataracts, and macular degeneration.
Here are just a few of the friendly team
members you’ll meet at Dearborn! L to R:
Michelle Neff, General Manager; Steve Kabara,
Manager; Deb Wiertalla, Manager; Shirley
Gelbart, Patient Advocate; and Dr. Nathan Harris,
Optometrist in Charge.
Stop By and See It! Walk-ins are always welcome at the new Dearborn Super Vision Center, located at 5500 Auto Club
Drive, south of Ford Road, in Dearborn. Or call (313) 562-8000 to schedule an appointment. The Super Vision Center is open Monday
through Friday, 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Saturday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.; and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.