Signs of Diabetes

Not treating diabetes could result in loss of vision

Dr. David Parks often takes frequent visits to Guam from Los Angeles, California at least three to four times a year to assist patients with diabetic eye disease and other retinal illnesses causing the loss of vision.
Dr. Parks is a skilled and trained board certified ophthalmologist who specializes in retinal diseases. He is expected to see just about anyone from premature babies to senior citizens. In fact, he says he’s seeing more and more young people living with diabetes. “One of the things I do see on Guam is that it does appear in people at a younger age.” explained the physician.

Throughout his scheduled visits, Dr. Parks sees more than 200 patients in a one-week period, most of whom need injections and medication. Of those numbers, a majority of them have diabetes. Dr. Parks’ expertise is needed to assist these patients mainly because a diabetic eye could look normal from the outside but may have abnormal vessels, causing bleeding in the retina.

He continued, “When you dilate the pupil and look at the retina, which is the lining of the inside of the eye, you can see some areas of bleeding which represents abnormal blood vessels and sometimes you can see swelling of the retina.” If left untreated it could cause blindness.

One thing Dr. Parks emphasizes is that it’s important to get your eyes checked frequently. “The best and most important advise is to get regular eye examines with your optometrist or your ophthalmologist. If you can catch it early, you can treat it,” he said.

For more information contact the SDA Eye Clinic in Guam at (671)646-8881 or Dr. Parks in Los Angeles at (310) 289-3666, website:www.socalretina.com.

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