title: Eye disorders. Retinopathy. What to expect in the diabetic patient.
abstract: Two forms of diabetic retinopathy are recognized clinically--nonproliferative and proliferative. Nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy is characterized by microaneurysms, hemorrhages, hard exudates, retinal edema, cotton-wool spots, and intraretinal microvascular abnormalities. The general outlook is optimistic, and most people with nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy will maintain useful vision for a long time. Proliferative diabetic retinopathy is characterized by formation of neovascular tissue on the surface of the retina or optic disk. Aspirin, photocoagulation, or vitrectomy may be used in treatment, depending on the type of retinopathy and its stage of progression.
mesh_terms: D003930:Diabetic Retinopathy / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005471:Fluoroscopy; D006801:Humans; D008028:Light Coagulation; D011379:Prognosis; D014481:United States