My 48 year old friend has diabetes, and recently his eyesight has been failing, and now he has no vision in one eye and the other eye is about 10/20. Is there is such thing as an eye transplant? How do you sign up? How long are the waiting lists?

It is regrettable that your friend has had this complication. Diabetes is a blinding disease, and the only prevention is blood sugar control. Eye implants are not available. With one remaining “good” eye, frequent dilated eye exams are paramount. The disease is most likely developed in both eyes, and he may need prompt laser intervention to decrease his risk of loosing his remaining good eye. His eye doctor would be aware of this probability. In addition he should be wearing high strength plastic lenses on a full time basis for eye protection and goggles in any hazardous environment.

Your friend also needs to be monitoring his kidney function as this is the next organ system to be involved in the cascade of complications. It is imperative that diabetic kidney disease be caught and treated early to prevent having to be put on dialysis. He must keep working on his blood sugar and blood pressure control.

CAG

[Editor’s comment: For more information about protecting the kidneys from diabetic damage, see How to Protect your Kidneys, at the Diabetes Monitor.

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