AUGUSTA, Ga. (AP) — Otis Lowe Jr., prides himself for calling it like he sees it and is upfront with Dr. Julian Nussbaum during a visit Dec. 27 to the Eye Care Center at AU Medical Center.

"I don't want to sound alarmist," the 74 year-old from Clearwater, S.C., begins, "but I think my eyes might last longer than I do."

"Well, that's my job," Nussbaum said, chuckling.

After battling diabetes for nearly 40 years, Lowe has developed diabetic retinopathy, a consequence of uncontrolled diabetes that can damage small blood vessels in the eye and is the leading cause of blindness among working-age ad...