Could your Sweet-Tooth be Dangerous to your Eyes?

Sweet-Tooth - Dangerous to your Eyes? | W. John Murrell, M.D. | Amarillo TX Diabetes is a prevalent condition that affects nearly 30 million Americans at this time. There is a precursor to diabetes, too. It is referred to as pre-diabetes, and it is estimated that more than 85 million Americans have this condition. Those numbers sound bleak. They demonstrate that we may still have a long way to go in understanding how to manage blood sugar, and in gaining the motivation to do so.

Eye Health as a Motivating Factor

If you need a motivating factor to manage the pre-diabetic condition and prevent full-blown diabetes, your eyesight is one of them. Of course, there is also inherent, and large, the risk of cardiovascular disease and heart attack, but we’ll stick with vision because that is something you want to preserve rather than avoid.

People with diabetes are at a significantly higher risk for eye diseases that could lead to blindness. The combined numbers of cases of blindness attributed to these eye diseases ultimately point to diabetes as the primary cause of blindness in adults. That is an eye-opening statistic!

Diabetes increases the risk of:

  • Glaucoma, which threatens the optic nerve by placing excessive pressure on this structure. A damaged optic nerve cannot transfer light that enters the eye to the brain for interpretation.
  • Diabetic retinopathy involves the blood vessels responsible for circulation to the retina. When these vessels constrict, vision diminishes.
  • Cataracts are more prevalent in people with diabetes, and the accumulation of protein on the lens also seems to occur more quickly in diabetic patients.

Why Pre-diabetes is an Important Condition

Being diagnosed with Pre-diabetes means that your blood glucose is high, but not to levels that indicate diabetes – not yet. However, research suggests that nearly 80% of diabetic retinopathy cases begin in pre-diabetes. One of the early indicators of diabetes is the blurry vision. If you struggle to see clearly, add a visit to your healthcare provider for glucose testing onto you schedule as well as an eye exam.

There are steps that you can take to gain control of blood glucose, to prevent a diagnosis of diabetes mellitus. A healthy diet and normal exercise routine are some of the first recommendations doctors give to people who are pre-diabetic.

We have two offices in Amarillo to serve you. Contact us to discuss diabetic eye care tailored to your needs.

Contact Us For All Your Health Related Queries!

Panhandle Eye Group Subspecialists

7411 Wallace Blvd
Amarillo, TX 79106

Amarillo Cataract & Eye Surgery Center

7310 Fleming Ave
Amarillo, TX 79106

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We offer earlier morning appointment starting at 7:40am for those who choose to come in at an earlier convince. Our phone hours are as posted.

Monday
8:15 AM - 4:30 PM
Tuesday
8:15 am - 4:30 pm
Wednesday
8:15 am - 4:30 pm
Thursday
8:15am - 12:30pm
Friday
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This is the latest IOL for Dr. Murrell's cataract practice. The LAL is the first IOL that can be adjusted after the surgery. Dr. Murrell can customize your IOL so that you can have the vision that you desire.

The LAL is a premium IOL which will not be covered under your medical insurance hence will have to pay for this IOL.

 

What's coming to Dr. Murrell's practice in the next few months.
Embrace with Accutite and Facetite and Morpheus Prime and Morpheus8

Accutite and Facetite: - These are FDA approved cosmetic devices that can melt fat and mildly tighten skin. It requires only a small opening in the skin. The Accutite is for small areas such as the upper and lower eyelids. The Facetite is for the larger areas of the face such as the jowls, neck, and nasolabial folds.

Morpheus Prime and Morpheus 8 - These are FDA approved cosmetic devices that are applied to the skin to tighten the skin and collagen underneath the skin. The Morpheus Prime is for smaller areas smaller areas such as the upper and lower eyelids. the Morpheus8 is for the larger areas of the face. Both Morpheus Prime and Morpheus 8 takes 3 treatments spaced 4 weeks apart from each other.

The Accutite and Morpheus Prime can both be performed to the eyelids to maximize the cosmetic effect. Likewise, the Facetite and Morpheus8 can both be performed to maximize the cosmetic effect.

The Embrace is the device that rungs the Accutite, Facetite, Morpheus8, and Morpheus Prime. These treatments are not covered by insurance. The patient will have to pay for the procedure.

What's New in Dr. Murrell Practice in 2023

Light adjustable IOl (LAL) for Cataract Patients

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