Vol 7, No 1 (2006): Practical Diabetology
Review article
Published online: 2006-02-13

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Progress in diagnosis and treatment of diabetic retinopathy

Barbara Mirkiewicz-Sieradzka
Diabetologia Praktyczna 2006;7(1):30-36.

Abstract

The number of diabetics increases all over the world and it is estimated that 300 million subjects will have diabetes in 2025. The increasing morbidity, especially due to type 2 diabetes mellitus is associated with the increased rate of microangiopathy with retinopathy being the most severe and frequent complication. For this reason permanent visual impairment due to diabetic retinopathy is of increasing importance. Early detection and appropriate treatment of retinopathy will limit the number of diabetics who would lose their sight.
The paper describes the procedures for the diagnosis of retinopathy, both noninvasive and invasive such as fundus fluorescein angiography. Guidelines for the performance of angiography were provided. The recent techniques for the study of early retinal changes were discussed: scanning laser ophthalmoscopy (SLO), optical coherent tomography (OCT), confocal scanning laser tomography (HRT, Heidelberg retinal tomography), retinal thickness analyser (RTA) and scanning laser flowmeters. The current methods for the treatment of retinopathy were discussed, including laser therapy of the retina as the most important technique. Indications to laser therapy were provided. Measures to prevent both the development and progression of retinopathy were also described.

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