10 Aug Telluride Medical Center: Free Diabetic Retinopathy Screening
Book an appointment now for the Telluride Medical Center‘s Annual Free Diabetic Retinopathy Screening with Dr. Dahl, Saturday, August 16, noon – 5p.m.
Dr. Andrew Dahl
A free diabetic retinopathy screening for individuals with diabetes, or those at risk for diabetes, will be from 12 p.m. to 5p.m. August 16 at the Telluride Medical Center (TMC).
This screening is a free service provided by Dr. Andrew Dahl, a visiting specialist at the TMC.
“Dr. Dahl has been offering this service out of the kindness of his heart for 5 years, free of charge. He is amazing,” said Care Manager Paula Scheidegger, who volunteers to assist with the screening.
Appointments for the retinopathy screenings are limited.
Diabetic retinopathy is a common complication of diabetes, which affects the small blood vessels in the lining at the back of the eye. This lining is called the retina. “The retina helps to change what you see into messages that travel along the sight nerve to the brain. A healthy retina is necessary for good eyesight,” said Scheidegger.
In the early stages, diabetic retinopathy will not affect the sight, but if the changes get worse, eventually the sight will be affected and can result in blindness.
According to Scheidegger, anyone diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, age 10 and older should have a dilated eye exam within five years after diabetes is diagnosed and then every year. People with type 2 diabetes should have an exam as soon as diabetes is diagnosed and then every year.
“When someone has diabetes, over time the blood vessels in the retina become thicker and the blood flowing in the blood vessels slows down. In the early stages, diabetic retinopathy will not affect the sight, but if the changes get worse, eventually the sight will be affected,” said Scheidegger.
Anybody with diabetes, either type 1 or type 2, is at risk of developing diabetic retinopathy. “The longer you have had diabetes, the more likely you are to develop diabetic retinopathy,” said Scheidegger.
TMC Medical Assistant, Dennis Magana, also volunteers his time to help Dr. Dahl offer the public service.
“Early detection and treatment of diabetic retinopathy can help prevent vision loss,” said Magana.
There are actions that can minimize risks of diabetic retinopathy. Magana recommends controlling blood sugar and blood pressure, taking medication as prescribed and attending this free diabetic retinopathy eye-screening clinic once a year.
Last year, of the twenty patients screened for retinopathy, two were found to have moderate diabetic retinopathy. Once there are findings of retinopathy, then the examinations do have to be done more frequently.
For more information or to make an appointment to be screened for diabetic retinopathy call TMC at 728-3848 or visit tellmed.org.
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