Local Families Need Assistance

Thanksgiving may be over, but our food drive isn’t.  Have an eye appointment scheduled soon?  Don’t forget to bring a non-perishable item!

Several local families are in need and this is Carolina Ophthalmology Associate’s 8^th year collecting items for the InterFaith Council (IFC) Food Pantry.  We will be collecting goods until the end of December.  Items in need range from canned tuna, canned meats, soups, rice, beans, canned vegetables, canned fruits, juice, dry milk, cereals, spaghetti pasta and sauce;  as well as diapers, soap, tooth paste, tooth brushes, shampoo and related personal hygiene items.

For information regarding donations or assistance, you may call IFC and its

Food Pantry at 929-6380 or visit them on line.

Diabetic Eye Disease Awareness Month

Are you one of the 29 million Americans that have diabetes? During November's Diabetic Eye Disease Awareness, the American Academy of Ophthalmology and Carolina Ophthalmology Associates want to remind those with diabetes to protect their vision by having a dilated eye exam every year. 

Diabetic retinopathy is the leading cause of legal blindness among working-age Americans.

Each year 12,000 to 24,000 people lose their sight due to diabetes. This includes people as young as 18 years old.

Diabetic retinopathy can also appear within the first year or two after the onset of the disease. For some people, diabetic retinopathy is one of the first signs they have diabetes.

Pregnant women with diabetes should have an eye exam in the first trimester – since diabetic eye disease can progress rapidly during pregnancy.

If you're diagnosed with diabetes, be sure to schedule a complete dilated eye exam once a year. Don’t smoke and keep your blood sugar under control through diet and exercise. Remember, it's your sight for life.