Diabetic retinopathy: An update on treatment

Abstract

Diabetic retinopathy is a progressive disease that results from vascular injury due to chronic hyperglycemia. It is the leading cause of blindness in working-age adults in the US and is usually asymptomatic until late stages. Treatment with laser photocoagulation is effective at preventing severe vision loss; thus, diabetic patients should be referred for regular screening by an ophthalmologist. New inhibitors of vascular endothelial growth factor may provide targeted nonsurgical treatment to improve vision in diabetic retinopathy.