Jeffry D. Gerson, O.D., F.A.A.O.
Today’s guest blog post is from Jeffry D. Gerson O.D., a VSP provider at WestGlen Eyecare & Omni Eye Center of Kansas City. He also lectures frequently on the topics of retinal disease and systemic disease and most notably has been our speaker at the VSP Eye on Diabetes Campaign.
There are many joys associated with being in private practice. Of course, the biggest one is knowing that you have helped a patient. Usually it involves helping somebody see better with glasses or contacts (and although this is rewarding, it doesn’t compare in magnitude to additional opportunities), but often forget the greatest thing we can do for our patients…save their lives. Although that may sound a little dramatic, eye doctors have the opportunity to dramatically improve our patients’ quality of life by helping them get their diabetes diagnosed earlier.
Eye doctors absolutely play a critical role in helping people with diabetes, and I take that responsibility very seriously. I take advantage of opportunities to help people understand their diabetes and how to prevent complications. I make sure that people understand A1c, the importance of self monitoring their blood glucose and general diabetes information. Too often, people have changes in their eyes from diabetes before they even know that they have diabetes. Approximately 20% of people diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes have “diabetic retionpathy” at the time of their diagnosis! It is often the changes to the eyes that lead to the diagnosis.
Just last week I had a patient come in and on screening retinal imaging I saw 2 peripheral dot hemes. After questioning and further examination, I determined that this patient most likely has diabetes. I sent him to his primary care physician for confirmatory diagnosis. There is no greater satisfaction than knowing that because of prompt referral and likely treatment, this person may not suffer amputation, blindness or other consequences of long-term uncontrolled diabetes.
Annual visits to the eye doctor are a great way to not only keep your vision great, but to make sure you are healthy in general.
