Diabetic Eye Disease Awareness Month at Eyecare Medical Group in Portland, Maine

    PORTLAND, ME, November 06, 2011 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Eyecare Medical Group in Portland, Maine wishes to announce that Prevent Blindness America has designated November as National Diabetic Eye Disease Awareness Month.

"Our patients should feel particularly confident as both Scott Steidl, M.D. and Jackie Nguyen, M.D. are fellowship trained Vitreoretinal specialists at Eyecare Medical Group. They can attend to even the most complex diabetic eye disease and problems," commented Clement Berry, Chief Executive Officer of Eyecare Medical Group.

"This is an important time to spread the word about this potentially blinding disease. We need to work together to help patients avoid the complications of diabetic retinopathy, which blinds over 8,000 Americans each year," commented Scott Steidl, M.D.

The vision loss from diabetic retinopathy can be prevented if it's caught early and treated in time. A recent study found that more than one third of those diagnosed with diabetes do not adhere to vision care guidelines recommending a dilated eye exam every year.

As part of Diabetic Eye Disease Awareness Month we are urging people with diabetes to have a dilated eye exam every year. The longer a person has diabetes, the greater his or her risk for developing diabetic retinopathy. However, diabetic retinopathy does not only affect people who have had diabetes for many years, it can also appear within the first year or two after the onset of the disease.

Blood sugar levels can weaken blood vessels causing them to break down which causes swelling, hemorrhages and lipid deposits that can ultimately lead to vision loss. More ominous is the effect of the blood vessel breakdown and oxygen deprivation in promoting fragile new blood vessel growth that can easily break resulting in vitreous hemorrhage, retinal detachment and devastating vision impairment.

Patients can help to reduce the risk of developing diabetic eye disease by not smoking, controlling their cholesterol and lipid profile and blood pressure, as well as working to eat a heart-healthy diet rich in fish, fruit and green leafy vegetables and exercising.

Eyecare Medical Group is a Maine Ophthalmology practice staffed by a team of eye care specialists including Board Certified Fellowship trained Ophthalmologists, Optometrists, Opticians, technical and administrative staff who provide eye examinations for adults and children, cataract surgery and Intraocular lens implants, (IOL), laser vision correction such as LASIK, diagnosis and treatment of cornea disease including cornea transplants, care for diseases of the retina including diabetes and age related macular degeneration and diagnosis and treatment of glaucoma.

To learn more about Eyecare Medical Group in Portland Maine you may visit www.eyecaremed.com or to learn more about LASIK in Maine you may visit, www.emglasereyecenter.com. Eyecare Medical Group is a founding member of the LASIK Eye Surgery Patient Information and LASIK Surgeon Directory at www.seewithlasik.com and the Cataract Surgery, Intraocular Lens Implant (IOL) and Cataract Surgeon Directory at www.aboutcataractsurgery.com.

SOURCE: Medical Management Services Group, L.L.C.

For additional information, contact:
Kathy Brackett, Eyecare Medical Group, 53 Sewall Street, Portland, Maine 04102, [email protected], 1.888.374.2020 and Visit Us On Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/eyecaremedicalgroup

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