Diabetic retinopathy. Control of systemic factors preserves vision.
Diabetic retinopathy, a retinal microangiopathy, is the leading cause of blindness for persons aged 20 to 65 years in the United States. Routine screening and early treatment are cost-effective and have been shown to help preserve sight. Primary care physicians play a key role in treatment of systemic factors that lead to poor outcomes and referral to an ophthalmologist or a retinal specialist for screening and local treatment. This article, the first of two on retinal vascular disease, provides a review of nonproliferative and proliferative diabetic retinopathy. The second article, which will appear in an upcoming issue of POSTGRADUATE MEDICINE, discusses retinal vascular disease in hypertension.
South Jersey Eye Physicians, Moorestown, New Jersey 08057, USA. michael@macula.us
Michael
M
Colucciello
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001766:Blindness / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D003930:Diabetic Retinopathy / Q000150:complications / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy; D005194:Family Practice / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D008266:Macula Lutea / Q000098:blood supply / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D012163:Retinal Detachment / Q000209:etiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014786:Vision Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D014822:Vitreous Body / Q000473:pathology*; D014823:Vitreous Hemorrhage / Q000209:etiology