title: Diabetic retinopathy: need for awareness amongst physicians.
abstract: The physician as a general practitioner, endocrinologist, nephrologist, cardiologist sees a diabetic patient first, much before the ophthalmologist, and so it is he who can help them a lot in case of diabetic retinopathy which is a highly specific vascular complication of both type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Progression of retinopathy advances step by step and ultimately loss of vision takes place. Laser photocoagulation is beneficial in preventing further vision loss. There is a need to educate diabetic patient about the devastating effects of the disease and guide them to an ophthalmologist - preferably a retina specialist.
authors.affiliation: Retina Clinic & Laser Centre, MM Medical Centre, Calcutta.
authors.forename: Suven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bhattacharjee
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D001364:Awareness; D003930:Diabetic Retinopathy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D017075:Laser Coagulation / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods; D008875:Middle Aged; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D011322:Primary Prevention / Q000458:organization & administration*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D017678:Sex Distribution