Newspaper Page Text
Long time diabetics warned
of diabetic retinopathy
November is American
Diabetes Month, and the
Georgia Optometric Associa
tion warns that people who
have diabetes for several
years are at risk of develop
ing a potentially blinding
condition called diabeticret
inopathy.
“Diabeticeyediseaseisthe
most common cause of blind
nessinthe United States for
persons age 20-74, account
ing for almost 80% of all
cases of blindness in this
group,” warns Dr. Clifford
Courternay of Valdosta,
president of the Georgia
Optometric Association. “At
least 50,000 Americans are
considered legally blind from
this condition and diabetic
eye disease is responsible
for 10% of the new cases of
blindnessreported annually.
Early treatment of Diabetic
Retinopathy can reduce the
chance of severe vision loss
by 50-60%.”
Over time, diabetes can
damage and weaken the
small blood vessels that
nourish the retina, the deli
cate lining at the back of the
eye containingthe light-sen
sitive nerve cells needed for
vision. When these blood
vesselsbeginto leak develop
brush -like branches or be
come enlarged, the condi
tion is called diabetic retin
opathy. This affects vision
indifferent ways, depending
on what changes are occur
ring and in what part of the
retina. Vision changes in
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1117 Laney-Walker Bivd.
Augusta, GA
clude blurred cental or side
vision, a blind spot in the
center vision, cloudy or hazy
vision, blind spots or seeing
floaters.
“Symptoms, however, of
tendon’t appearin the early
stages of the disease,” says
Dr. Courternay. “That’s why
people with diabetes need to
have a thorough eye health
and vision examination ev
ery year. Direct viewing of
the retina and blood vessels
through adilated eye exami
nation allowsthe optometrist
to diagnose diabetic retin
opathy inits earliest stages,
when treatment is most ef
fective.”
The treatment for diabetic
retinopathy involves laser
and surgical procedures.
These are often successful
in reducing the progression
of this eye disease and in
decreasing the risk of vison
loss, but early detection is
the key.
In addition to those who
have had diabetes for anum
ber of years, other people
with diabetes who have in
creased risk of diabetic ret
inopathy are those who have
fluctuating blood sugar lev
els; are pregnant; have high
blood pressure; smoke.
“Maintaining an adequate
level of control of diabetes is
an important factor in pre
venting the development of
ocular and medical compli
cations,” says Dr.
Courternay.
Visit BL's for breakfast and
lunch
Tuesday through Friday.
Also open for Sunday brunch.
Call 828-7799
Congresswoman Sheila Jackson-Lee and
NCNW honor nation’s finest educators
WASHINGTON, D.C.
Congresswoman Sheila
Jackson-Lee joined the Na
tional Council of Negro
Women, Inc.(NCNW)tohonor
this year’s recipients of its
12" Annual Excellence in
Teaching Award atits annual
award luncheon at the Cap:tol
Hilton, in Washington, D.C.
Sponsored by Shell Oil Com
pany, the award was created
in honor of NCNW founder,
Mary McLeod Bethune, to
recognize teachers that make
significant contributionstothe
education of African-Ameri
can youth.
NCNW is a non-profit, vol
untary service organization
with 38 affiliated national or
ganizations, 252 community
based sections charteredin 38
states and 60,000 individual
members. It is dedicated to
improving the quality of life of
African-American women,
their families and communi
ties.
Weekdays at 5:00 PM O
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Pictured (l) to (r): Subira Kifano (Western Region recipient, LaTanya Obijiof or
(Southern Region recipient), Sherry Maddox-Adams (National recipient), Congress
women Sheila Jackson-Lee, Jacqueline Anderson (Eastern Region recipient), Linda
Franklin (Midwestern Region recipient, Harvey, lll.), Albert Myres (senior vice presi
dent, Shell Oil Company Foundation), and Shirley Johnson (program manager, Shell
Oil Company National and Community Outreach.) Photo by Jim Wells.
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AUGUSTA FOCUS
NOVEMBER 8, 2001
for holidays
Fort Gordon, GA
The Military Personnel Di
vision, including the identifi
cation (ID) card section, closes
November 22 and 23 for the
Thanksgiving holidays.
The Division reopens No
vember 26 at 7:30 a.m.
The ID card section is in
recom 161 of Darling Hall,
Building 33720, at the inter
section of Chamberlain Avenue
and Kilbourne Road.
Formoreinformation, please
call (706)-791-1927.
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