Diabetic retinopathy

Sight-threatening signs of diabetic retinopathy include macular oedema, retinal or optic disc new vessels, and vitreous haemorrhage.

Main measures to prevent visual loss include improvement in glycaemic, lipid, and hypertensive control, and the early identification of sight-threatening disease.

Main therapies are intravitreal injection of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) agents, pan-retinal laser photocoagulation, and vitrectomy surgery. Intravitreal corticosteroid and macular laser therapy may be considered for patients refractory to anti-VEGF agents.

Diabetic retinopathy is the chronic progressive retinal manifestation of hyperglycaemic vascular damage and neurodegenerative change. It increases in prevalence with duration of diabetes. There are two stages: non-proliferative and proliferative. Non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR) is the early stage of the disease and may cause moderate visual loss. Proliferative retinopathy is a later stage of the disease and may cause severe visual loss.