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SEI to present at Health 1st Drop by the Health 1st Wellness Wednesday table from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Nov. 28 in the Children’s Hospital lobby to learn more about preventable blindness and other visual disorders. South Carolina is No. 2 in the incidence of diabetes. The incidence of diabetes is increasing—approximately 20.8 million Americans have diabetes, according to the American Diabetes Association. People with diabetes are 25 times more likely to go blind than the general population, and each year as many as 24,000 Americans diagnosed with diabetes, lose their sight from diabetic retinopathy, a complication of diabetes.   In more than 90 percent of these cases, blindness could have been prevented with early detection and early treatment. At first, there are no symptoms with diabetic retinopathy. By the time people realize that they are losing vision, some permanent damage may have already occurred.   The Lowcountry also has a high incidence of glaucoma, an eye disease that has no warning signs. It causes vision loss when left untreated. An estimated 2.2 million people in the United States have glaucoma. Of these, as many as 120,000 are blind as a result. Furthermore, glaucoma is the No. 1 cause of vision loss in blacks. Treatments to slow the progression of the disease are available. However, at least half of the people with glaucoma are not receiving treatment, because they are unaware of their condition. Those at higher risk for glaucoma are: --Blacks older than 40 years of age --Everyone age 60 and older, especially Mexican- Americans --People with a family history of glaucoma   Sight can be saved with early detection and early treatment of glaucoma.   Meanwhile, age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the major cause of loss of sight in the population over 60 years of age in Western world, producing loss of central vision. The types of macular degeneration are dry, affecting 85 percent to 90 percent of cases, and wet affecting 10 percent to 15 percent of cases. Although there is no cure, treatments are available for macular degeneration.   Storm Eye Institute also has Glaucoma Support Group and Macular Degeneration Support Group meetings available. Stop by for information on these and other eye disorders and receive a free ticket for prizes Nov. 28. Editor's note: The preceding column was brought to you on behalf of Health 1st. Striving to bring various topics and representing numerous employee wellness organizations and committees on campus, this weekly column seeks to provide MUSC, MUHA and UMA employees with current and helpful information concerning all aspects of health.     Friday, Nov. 23, 2007 Catalyst Online is published weekly, updated as needed and improved from time to time by the MUSC Office of Public Relations for the faculty, employees and students of the Medical University of South Carolina. Catalyst Online editor, Kim Draughn, can be reached at 792-4107 or by email, catalyst@musc.edu. Editorial copy can be submitted to Catalyst Online and to The Catalyst in print by fax, 792-6723, or by email to catalyst@musc.edu. To place an ad in The Catalyst hardcopy, call Island Publications at 849-1778, ext. 201.