With early detection, most or all of a person's vision may be saved. Careful evaluation of the optic nerve is integral to the management of glaucoma. The Body of Evidence Many systemic diseases with a focal point elsewhere in the body may manifest distinctive signs in the eyes. A common systemic disease that can be detected through this evaluation is diabetes. When the body is unable to process sugar correctly, changes in the vascular system produce microaneurysms, hemorrhages and fluid leakage into body tissues, including the retina.
Visual impairment is a frequent complication of diabetes.
According to the American Diabetes Association, more than 70 percent of people with diabetes develop some diabetic eye disease after having the disease for 20 years. Diabetic eye disease can include cataracts, glaucoma, macular degeneration, retinal hemorrhages and retinal detachment. If the condition is not diagnosed and treated early, blindness often results. Diabetes remains the leading cause of adult blindness in America. Approximately 8,000 diabetes sufferers lose their vision each year due to retinal complications.