[Diabetic retinopathy]

Abstract

The risk of blindness in diabetes may be significantly reduced by a suitable ophthalmic therapy. In order to apply this therapy in due time to the population at risk, all diabetics should be referred to ophthalmological follow-up examination at regular intervals. A rapid progression of a retinopathy may occur in young patients, especially during puberty and pregnancy, after change from oral antidiabetics to insulin and, temporarily, following strict control of blood glucose. Besides normoglycemia, the prevention of a high blood pressure is an important prerequisite of an efficient treatment of diabetic retinopathy. Retinal photocoagulation has been proven the most effective mode of therapy. The correct indication and stage-depending dosage of retinal laser coagulation in diabetes is a demanding task which should be reserved to well-trained specialists in this field. Diabetic vitreous bleeding and retinal traction detachment are complications of advanced proliferative diabetic retinopathy, which can be treated successfully in 60-70% of the cases by modern techniques of vitreoretinal surgery.