Diabetic retinopathy

Diabetic retinopathy has emerged as a major eye health problem.Number of diabetics is increasing day by day.After 5 - 10 years of diabetes almost everybody gets retinopathy in mild,moderate or severe form.Diabetic Retinopathy is a serious eye disorder .It is commonly seen in people who have DM for 5-10 yrs.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus is the most common constituting 90-95% of all diagnosed cases of diabetes. It occurs due to insulin resistance at receptor level.

Type 1 diabetes mellitus is the most prevalent type of diabetes among children and young adults. It occurs due to absence of insulin production or less  insulin production due to pancreatic disease

 Diabetes is a complex disorder that has many possible indicators. These include unexplained weight loss, excessive hunger (polyphagia), thirst (polydipsia), frequent urination (polyuria), dehydration, leg pain when walking (claudication), fatigue, dizziness and itching (pruritus).Awareness of these signs and symptoms can be an alert to potential onset of diabetes 

 Duration of diabetes is the most important factor for the development of Diabetic Retinopathy (DR); 98% of patients with Type 1 diabetes and about 60% of patients with Type 2 diabetes will develop DR after 20 years

 
Recent trends in diagnosis include single-field nonmydriatic digital fundus camera which can be placed in a Physician's/Ophthalmologist's office.The photographs can be used for screening.

Retinal hypoxia plays an important role in pathophysiology of the disease.
In severe cases called as proliferative DR,vitreous hemorrhage occurs.Vitreous hemorrhage may clear spontaneously slowly but sometimes it doesn't clear & one has to consider vitrectomy surgery with endolaser.
You can read more about diabetes , hypertension at
www.indiastudychannel.com/forum/17367-Diabetes-Hypertension-are-silent-Killers.aspx
www.indiastudychannel.com/resources/14574-Prevent-diabetes-problems-Keep-your-eyes-healthy.aspx

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Diabetes