A
5200 Harry Hines Blvd.
,
Dallas
,
TX
75235
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- 214-590-8000
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- Visitation hours may vary by floor
- 214-590-8000
- Main Retail Café: Mon - Sun | 6:30 a.m. - 7 p.m.
- Starbucks Café: WISH Building | Mon - Fri | 5:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.
- Park Market Café: Mon - Fri | 6:30 a.m. - 7 p.m. | 8 p.m. - 4 a.m. | Sat -Sun | 7 p.m. - 4 a.m.
- Monday - Friday: 9 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.
- Saturday & Sunday: 10 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
- Monday - Friday: 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
- 214-590-8831
- Monday - Friday: 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
- Monday - Friday: 7 a.m. – 7 p.m.
- Monday - Friday: 6 a.m. - 11 p.m.
- Saturday: 8 a.m. – 7 p.m. Sunday: Closed
- Holiday hours may be different
Posted: 3/4/2015
Leading cause of blindness is preventable if detected early
Of the many health problems associated with diabetes, blindness may not be the one that comes to mind first. But diabetes mellitus is in fact one of the leading causes of preventable blindness.
According to the American Diabetes Association, people with diabetes are 40 percent more likely to develop glaucoma and 60 percent more likely to develop cataracts than those who do not have the disease. In addition, those with diabetes may also develop a complication known as diabetic retinopathy that causes damage to the blood vessels in the back of the eyes.
At first, patients with retinopathy may have no symptoms or notice only mild vision problems. But eventually, diabetic retinopathy can lead to blindness.
“That’s why it’s so important to regularly check our patients with diabetes for signs or symptoms of diabetic retinopathy,” said Noel Santini, MD, Chief of Adult Community Medicine at Parkland Health & Hospital System. “To do so, we developed an easily accessible way for patients to get this essential screening in the primary care setting.”
In 2013 Parkland launched an innovative program funded by the state’s 1115 waiver to ensure that all patients with diabetes are screened for retinal disease during a regular outpatient office visit. Known as Teleretinal Imaging, the screening tool is available during a patient’s office visit to their primary care provider (PCP).
The test is performed in the PCP’s office and the images are analyzed and interpreted remotely by a staff optometrist. Depending on the outcome, the patient may be scheduled for further evaluation at one of the Parkland Community Oriented Primary Care (COPC) Optometry Clinics or Parkland Ophthalmology Clinic, or for follow-up for the recommended annual screening at future PCP visits.
“Patients with mild retinopathy just require routine comprehensive eye exams,” said Meghna Lilaram, OD, a Parkland optometrist. “For patients with moderate to severe damage from retinopathy, more frequent exams or surgery may be indicated. If not detected early, the damage to vision may not be reversible, which is why it is recommended that people with diabetes have regular eye exams to monitor their ocular health.”
Factors contributing to diabetic retinopathy include the length of time diabetes is present, poor blood glucose level control, poor blood pressure control and/or genetics. Patients with both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes are at risk of developing the condition. Controlling blood sugar levels and scheduling yearly eye exams are two key ways to prevent serious complications and blindness.
For further information about specialty care for patients with diabetes at Parkland, please call 214.590.5675. To find the Parkland Community Oriented Primary Care health center nearest you, visit www.parklandhospital.com/locations