title: [Evolution of the conceptualization of diabetic retinopathy].
abstract: The latest studies on diabetic retinopathy reveal important clinical and therapeutic advances. From a clinical point of view, diverse methods of examination have enabled to study the primary damages of the pigmentary epithelium in cases of diabetic retinopathy in the young at the age of puberty and post-puberty. Moreover, neuro-functional exploration discloses the visual alterations which could not be objectified with classical methods of examination. The study of the circulation in different ocular tissues gives evidence of important facts concerning the evolution of the disease. The comparison of fluorescein angiography with other techniques of in-vivo injection has demonstrated the existence of a retino-choroidopathy with a particular pattern. Indications for pan-retinal coagulation and photo-coagulations can be better defined. Insulin pumps or combined pancreatic and kidney transplantation may contribute to achieve the glycemic balance but they do not solve the problem of diabetic retinopathy at an advanced stage. Other general therapies which are intended to improve the circulation of the hematological or immunological data have not yet proved to be effective in serious cases of retinopathy. Providing the latest research findings to ophthalmologists, primary care physicians and allied health professionals is the first priority in order to significantly reduce blindness due to diabetes by the year 2000.
authors.affiliation: Centre médical ophtalmologique, Albi.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Amalric
mesh_terms: D003930:Diabetic Retinopathy; D006801:Humans
vernacular_title: Evolution des conceptions sur la rétinopathie diabétique.