The nation's leading volunteer eye health and safety organization, Prevent Blindness America, has launched a new Web site to help prevent vision loss from diabetes. It is www.diabetes-sight.org, and it provides information and resources for patients and healthcare professionals.

According to the National Eye Institute, almost half of the 16 million people with diabetes in the US have at least early signs of diabetic retinopathy, and every year as many as 25,000 lose their sight from it.

Diabetic eye disease may include:

• Diabetic retinopathy - damage to the blood vessels in the retina of the eye
• Cataract - clouding of the eye's lens
• Glaucoma - increase in fluid pressure inside the eye that leads to optic nerve damage

People with diabetes should have a dilated eye exam every year. Next week we'll look at the risk factors for diabetic retinopathy.

Related information: Complications - Eyes | My Health Chart - My Diabetes Checklist