The internist's role in managing diabetic retinopathy: screening for early detection.
Although laser treatment keeps vision damaged by diabetic retinopathy from becoming worse, it only rarely improves vision. If primary care physicians wait until the patient complains of blurred vision, it is too late--there is already permanent retinal injury, and the lost vision almost never can be restored. Unfortunately, only half of patients with diabetes undergo an appropriate examination every year. Only by teamwork between primary care physician and ophthalmologist can blindness from diabetic retinopathy be reduced.
Department of Ophthalmology, Crozer Chester Medical Center, Hahnemann University, Philadelphia, PA, USA. Stephen@StephenSinclairMD.com
Stephen H
SH
Sinclair
Cherie
C
Delvecchio
D001766:Blindness / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D003930:Diabetic Retinopathy / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007388:Internal Medicine; D017075:Laser Coagulation; D009885:Ophthalmology; D009887:Ophthalmoscopy; D010348:Patient Care Team; D010349:Patient Compliance; D010781:Photography; D010819:Physician's Role; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D015351:Vision Screening / Q000379:methods*