“My Eye Doctor Saved My Life”: The 60-Second Test That’s Catching a Silent Epidemic in Illinois

How breakthrough technology at local optometry practices is detecting diabetes before blood tests – and saving vision across Willowbrook, Addison, and Burbank
Odette Crawford’s Story
“My eye doctor saved my life,” says Odette Crawford, whose routine eye exam revealed something her blood work had missed. “I could have gone into a diabetic coma if I did not pay attention to her instructions.” When Crawford couldn’t see her TV screen clearly, she never suspected diabetes was stealing her sight. At her eye appointment, the doctor made a startling discovery: “She did my examination, and she says, ‘Odette, your prescription has changed drastically in the past three weeks.'” That dramatic change wasn’t just about needing new glasses, it was her body’s desperate signal that dangerously high blood sugar was damaging her eyes from the inside out. Eye Doctors and Diabetes
Crawford’s experience isn’t unique. Across Illinois, eye doctors are making life-saving discoveries that primary care physicians and blood tests are missing. In fact, 9.6 million Americans currently live with diabetic retinopathy – more than double the number from just two decades ago. Yet most don’t know it until permanent damage is already done. The reason? Diabetic retinopathy is called “the silent thief of sight” because it has no symptoms in its early stages. By the time you notice vision changes, you may have already lost sight that can never be recovered.

The Illinois Reality: Closer to Home Than You Think

In Illinois alone, 1.3 million adults have diabetes, plus another 341,000 who remain undiagnosed. Recent research shows dramatic differences in risk across DuPage and Cook Counties, where Dr. Najib Albina’s Eye Care Center LTD serves three distinct communities:
Burbank residents face the highest risk with demographics that align with elevated diabetes rates—49.7% Hispanic population and urban health patterns documented in Chicago metropolitan studies. Addison shows moderate risk with 43.8% Hispanic population, while Willowbrook has the lowest diabetes risk but the highest median age (46.3 years), creating different challenges focused on diabetes management rather than prevention.
What makes this particularly urgent for local residents is that Northwestern University’s 2023 study of over one million Chicago-area adults identified 36 high-risk ZIP codes where 85.4% of households are ethnic minorities – yet these areas show paradoxically low retinopathy detection rates despite high diabetes prevalence.

Real Stories: When Eye Exams Change Everything

Ron O.’s Life-Saving Discovery
Ron Orsua diabetesRon considered himself healthy after losing 35 pounds and felt great about his fitness progress. But when his vision started changing, an eye exam with Dr. Jon Bundy revealed dangerously high glucose levels that led to a three-day hospitalization and diabetes diagnosis. “I always thought, ‘You go to your optometrist for your eyes. You go to your doctor for your body,'” Ron reflects. “Your eyes are part of your body—it’s amazing how it’s all connected.”
Steve E.’s Emergency Discovery
Steve couldn’t read road signs that he could see clearly just the day before. This prompted an emergency eye visit that revealed nothing wrong with his eyes—but led to a diabetes diagnosis that quite literally saved his life. “It saved my life. Having an eye exam is probably the smartest thing I’ve ever done, and Dr. Bundy was able to take care of a problem that I didn’t even know I had.”
The Cost of Waiting: Danny Ball’s Warning “Like many young men, I felt invincible. I thought sight loss was something that happened to other people,” says Danny Ball, now 35 and blind in one eye with severe vision loss in the other. “My sight could have been saved if I’d checked my eyes earlier.”

Breakthrough Technology: The 60-Second Test That Changes Everything

The game has changed dramatically for early detection. Three FDA-approved AI screening systems now enable autonomous diabetic retinopathy detection with remarkable accuracy. The newest breakthrough, AEYE-DS by AEYE Health, received FDA clearance in April 2024 as the first portable handheld device with 92-93% sensitivity and 89-94% specificity.
Revolutionary Speed and Accuracy:
  • Results in 60 seconds (compared to weeks for traditional lab work)
  • 99% imageability rate (works on virtually every patient)
  • Only one image needed per eye (vs. two for older systems)
  • Reimbursable through CPT code 92229 (covered by most insurance)
Yet current adoption remains surprisingly low – less than 5% of diabetic patients received ophthalmic imaging between 2019-2023, with only 0.09% receiving AI-based screening since 2021. This represents a massive opportunity for early detection that most people simply don’t know exists.

Why Eye Doctors Can Detect Diabetes Before Blood Tests

Dr. Jennifer Tsai, a Manhattan-based optometrist, explains: “Even if you believe that your vision is clear, a lot of times there are hereditary genetic diseases that can occur. A lot of eye conditions are diseases that can be silent in that the patient often doesn’t know until something is detected during an examination.” The eyes are unique because they’re the only place in your body where doctors can directly see blood vessels without surgery. When diabetes damages these tiny vessels, trained eye doctors can spot the changes months or even years before symptoms appear.

The Science Behind the Silent Epidemic

Recent JAMA Ophthalmology research reveals the scope of this hidden crisis: 26.4% of all people with diabetes now have diabetic retinopathy, with 1.84 million Americans suffering from vision-threatening stages requiring immediate intervention.
Key Risk Factors Include:
  • Duration of diabetes: 28.4% of those aged 65-79 are affected
  • Gender differences: Males show higher rates (28.1% vs. 24.4% for females)
  • Ethnic disparities: Black individuals show 43.4% higher prevalence (34.4%) compared to White individuals (24.4%)
  • Hispanic populations: 29.2% prevalence rate
What’s particularly alarming is that 90% of diabetes-related blindness is preventable with early detection and treatment – yet the window for intervention is narrow and often missed.

Success Stories: Early Detection Works

Mark Campbell’s Vision Restoration
Mark, a 53-year-old grandfather, went completely blind from advanced diabetic retinopathy. But thanks to Dr. Rishi Singh’s surgical intervention at Cleveland Clinic, his vision was fully restored. “I can watch my 3-year-old granddaughter grow up and see her smile,” he says. “Having to get shots into my eyes is a small price to pay for that!” mark campbell's recovery from diabetic Fortunately, as a result of laser photocoagulation treatments for leaking blood vessels in the retina, followed by retina surgery in each eye, Mark’s vision has been fully restored.
Cyndi Daugherty’s Recovery
Cyndi improved her vision from 20/40-20/70 to nearly 20/20 through anti-VEGF therapy after early detection. The key was catching the condition before irreversible damage occurred.

Treatment Options When Caught Early

When diabetic retinopathy is detected in its early stages, several highly effective treatments are available:
  • Anti-VEGF injections: Medicines that slow down or reverse diabetic retinopathy
  • Laser treatment: Reduces swelling and stops blood vessel leakage
  • Corticosteroid injections: Reduce inflammation and fluid buildup
  • Blood sugar management: The most important factor in preventing progression
The critical factor? Early detection. Once vision loss occurs, it’s often permanent, even with the best treatments available.

What Every Illinois Resident Should Know

You Need a Diabetic Eye Screening If You:
  • Have been diagnosed with type 1 or type 2 diabetes
  • Have prediabetes or “borderline” diabetes
  • Experience frequent thirst, urination, or unexplained fatigue
  • Have a family history of diabetes
  • Are over 45 years old (especially with other risk factors)
  • Are Hispanic, Black, or Native American (higher risk populations)
  • Notice any changes in vision, even minor ones

The Illinois Advantage: Local Expertise Meets Advanced Technology

Dr. Najib Albina’s Eye Care Center LTD serves the unique needs of three distinct Illinois communities: Willowbrook Location: Serving DuPage County’s aging population with comprehensive diabetes management and screening programs Addison Location: Focused on preventive care for the area’s diverse, working-age population with convenient scheduling options Burbank Location: Specialized outreach to Cook County’s high-risk populations with bilingual services and community education programs
Each location utilizes the latest FDA-approved AI screening technology, providing results in 60 seconds and immediate peace of mind – or early intervention when needed.

Partnership Network: Comprehensive Diabetes Care

Eye Care Center LTD works closely with Illinois’s leading diabetes care network:
  • Northwestern Medicine’s Center for Diabetes and Metabolism: Leading Chicago-area diabetes care with seamless referral coordination
  • Advocate Health Care: Illinois’s largest health system with American Diabetes Association certification across 10 hospitals and 400+ sites
  • DuPage Health Coalition’s Access DuPage: Connecting uninsured residents to comprehensive eye care services
  • Duly Health and Care: 50+ years of diabetes experience with integrated ophthalmology services

Don’t Wait for Symptoms: They May Never Come

“The early stages of diabetic retinopathy don’t cause changes in vision and you won’t have symptoms. Only an eye exam can detect the problem, so that steps can be taken to prevent the eye damage from getting worse.” -American Academy of Ophthalmology
Dr. Christina Y Weng, MD, MBA, highlights the critical challenge: “The impetus behind the concept of teleretinal screening really originates from the fact that diabetic retinopathy is largely preventable with timely detection. But very unfortunately, only about 50-65% of patients with diabetes mellitus are actually compliant with these screening recommendations.” The American Diabetes Association recommends:
  • Type 1 diabetes: Eye exam within five years of diagnosis
  • Type 2 diabetes: Eye exam immediately upon diagnosis
  • Pregnant women with diabetes: Eye exam within the first trimester
  • Everyone with diabetes: Annual follow-up exams

The Technology Revolution: AI Meets Local Care

John Bertrand, CEO of Digital Diagnostics, explains why early intervention is crucial: “For diabetic retinopathy, early detection of the disease and intervention leads to improvements in patient outcomes, reduction in costs, and overall reduces the burden on the health system long term. Because it’s a disease that progresses over time and gets worse, as do the strength of the interventions needed, the earlier you catch it, the better.”
Advanced Diagnostic Technology Available at Eye Care Center LTD:
  • AEYE-DS Portable AI Screening: 60-second results with 92-93% accuracy
  • OCT Imaging: Detects fluid buildup and tissue changes
  • Digital Retinal Photography: Detailed documentation and comparison over time
  • Fluorescein Angiography: Advanced blood vessel analysis when needed

Taking Action: Your Next Steps

The stories of Odette, Ron, Steve, and thousands of others prove that a simple eye exam can be life-changing. The technology exists. The expertise is available locally. The treatment options are highly effective when started early. The question is: Will you wait for symptoms that may never come, or will you take the 60 seconds that could save your sight?

Schedule Your Life-Saving Eye Exam Today

Don’t wait for vision changes – they often mean it’s too late. Dr. Najib Albina and the Eye Care Center LTD team are ready to provide the advanced screening that could detect diabetes before your blood work does.
Willowbrook: Serving DuPage County with comprehensive diabetes screening Addison: Convenient scheduling for working families Burbank: Specialized care for Cook County’s diverse community
Schedule My Eye Exam Now

Most insurance accepted. Same-day appointments available.

Remember: 90% of diabetes-related blindness is preventable with early detection. The 60-second test that could save your sight is available right here in Illinois. The only question is whether you’ll take it before it’s too late.

References

  1. Lundeen EA, Burke-Conte Z, Rein DB, et al. Prevalence of Diabetic Retinopathy in the US in 2021. JAMA Ophthalmology. 2023;141(8):747-754. Available at: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamaophthalmology/fullarticle/2806093
  2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. VEHSS Modeled Estimates: Prevalence of Diabetic Retinopathy (DR). Vision and Eye Health Surveillance System. 2023. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/vision-health-data/prevalence-estimates/dr-prevalence.html
  3. Illinois Department of Public Health. Illinois Diabetes Prevention and Control Program. 2024. Available at: https://dph.illinois.gov/topics-services/diseases-and-conditions/diabetes/il-prevention-control-program.html
  4. Crawford, Odette. “My eye doctor saved my life”: Woman learns she has diabetes after an eye exam. TODAY. November 12, 2020. Available at: https://www.today.com/health/diabetes-eyesight-eye-exam-helps-woman-get-diabetes-diagnosis-t198675
  5. American Optometric Association. The results of a comprehensive eye exam? A lifesaving diabetes diagnosis. Available at: https://www.aoa.org/healthy-eyes/eye-deserve-more/doctor-patient-stories/the-results-of-a-comprehensive-eye-exam-a-lifesaving-diabetes-diagnosis
  6. PR Newswire. FDA clears first fully autonomous AI for portable diabetic retinopathy screening. April 15, 2024. Available at: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/fda-clears-first-fully-autonomous-ai-for-portable-diabetic-retinopathy-screening-302131559.html
  7. National Eye Institute. Diabetic Retinopathy. National Institutes of Health. 2024. Available at: https://www.nei.nih.gov/learn-about-eye-health/eye-conditions-and-diseases/diabetic-retinopathy
  8. American Academy of Ophthalmology. Diabetic retinopathy PPP 2019. Updated October 2019. Available at: https://www.aao.org/preferred-practice-pattern/diabetic-retinopathy-ppp
  9. Mayo Clinic. Diabetic retinopathy – Diagnosis & treatment. 2024. Available at: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/diabetic-retinopathy/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20371617
  10. IRIS Solutions. How a Quick Eye Exam Can Detect Diabetic Retinopathy. June 3, 2025. Available at: https://retinalscreenings.com/blog/quick-eye-exam/
  11. Tsai, Jennifer, OD. Eye Exams for People With Diabetes. WebMD. October 5, 2024. Available at: https://www.webmd.com/diabetes/eye-exams-diabetes
  12. Data USA. Demographic profiles for Willowbrook, IL; Addison, IL; and Burbank, IL. 2024. Available at: https://datausa.io/
  13. Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust. Danny shares his sight loss story. Available at: https://www.guysandstthomas.nhs.uk/news/danny-shares-his-sight-loss-story
  14. Cleveland Clinic. Diet, Treatment Save Grandfather from Diabetic Blindness. Available at: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/patient-stories/346-healthy-diet-and-timely-treatment-save-grandfather-from-diabetic-blindness
  15. American Academy of Ophthalmology. Anti-VEGF Treatment Returns Sight to Woman with Diabetic Retinopathy. Available at: https://www.aao.org/eye-health/patient-stories-detail/cyndi-daugherty-diabetic-retinopathy