While glycemic control is the chief risk factor for development and progression of diabetic retinopathy, there is increasing evidence for heritable risk factors.
Other factors, such as hypertension, smoking, hyperlipidemia, and kidney disease, may worsen the retinopathy.
Diabetic retinopathy is composed of a characteristic group of lesions found in the retina of individuals having diabetes, generally for several years.
The evolution of diabetic retinopathy has been considered to progress in stages, based on two landmarks: presence of alterations on ophthalmoscopic examination and the development of retinal neovascularization, a late development, which appears to be fundamentally independent of the diabetic metabolic disease.
An early diagnosis, determined by a dilated eye examination and followed by appropriate treatment, could prevent the loss of sight for over 90 percent of patients with diabetes.
Diabetic retinopathy
