Dear Dr. Gabe,

My father has lost vision because of Diabetes. Even though his glasses are new, he is having problems reading things like letters, magazines, bills, and the TV listings. He is also having problems watching TV and using the computer. This has really changed his life, and his frustration is shared with the rest of our family. Can you help?

-Frustrated in Hercules

Dear Frustrated in Hercules,

The first thing anybody with Diabetes needs to know is that regular eye examinations are a must. For the population under 65 years-old, Diabetes is the leading cause of vision loss. Fortunately, though, vision loss from diabetes is preventable with proper control of blood sugar and annual eye exams that include diabetic retinal screening. (The retina is like film for a camera – it lines the back of the eye and is responsible for capturing the images that we see.) So, your father needs to be seen regularly by an eye doctor to help prevent further vision loss.

Next, there are some Optometrists, like myself, who are trained and equipped to prescribe “Low Vision” devices such as magnifying lenses, telescopes, electronic/video scanning devices and filters that can help people, like your dad, use their remaining vision as best as possible. Also, we can help him take advantage of public (city, county, state and federal) and private (PG&E, AT&T, Lighthouse, Reader’s Digest) programs designed to help people suffering from “Low Vision” to maintain independence and daily living skills. Besides Diabetes, other eye diseases that can cause “Low Vision” are Macular Degeneration, Cataracts, Glaucoma, and Retinitis Pigmentosa.

Our sense of sight is very precious indeed. Losing vision to eye disease can be very frustrating; but thanks to technological breakthroughs in vision research and optics, there is hope for people like your father. Call me at (510) 724-3937 to set up an appointment for your him. We take most insurance plans including VSP, Davis Vision, EyeMed, EyeCare Network, Medicare & Medi-Cal.

-Dr. Gabe