Diabetic retinopathy

Diabetic retinopathy
Other names	Diabetic eye disease
Fundus image, showing several common signs of diabetic retinopathy
Pronunciation	ˌrɛtɪnˈɑpəθi[1]
Specialty	Ophthalmology, optometry
Symptoms	Often asymptomatic, but can cause spots in the eye and vision loss.
Complications	Vitreous hemorrhage, Retinal detachment, Glaucoma, Blindness
Duration	Lifelong
Causes	Long-term poor control of diabetes mellitus
Risk factors	Diabetes, poor control of blood sugar, smoking, inflammation
Diagnostic method	Eye examination[2]
Treatment	Laser coagulation, Vitrectomy[2]
Medication	Anti-VEGF Injection[2]
Frequency	Nearly all patients with type 1 diabetes and >60% of patients with type 2 diabetes[3]

Diabetic retinopathy (also known as diabetic eye disease), is a medical condition in which damage occurs to the retina due to diabetes. It is a leading cause of blindness in developed countries.

Diabetic retinopathy affects up to 80 percent of those who have had both type 1 and type 2 diabetes for 20 years or more. In at least 90% of new cases, progression to more aggressive forms of sight threatening retinopathy and maculopathy could be reduced with proper treatment and monitoring of the eyes. The longer a person has diabetes, the higher his or her chances of developing diabetic retinopathy. Each year in the United States, diabetic retinopathy accounts for 12% of all new cases of blindness. It is also the leading cause of blindness in people aged 20 to 64.