Diabetic retinopathy: treatment and prevention

Diabetic eye disease is the major cause of blindness and vision loss among working-age people in developed countries. Microangiopathy and capillary occlusion underlie the pathogenesis of disease. While laser treatment is regarded as the standard therapy, intensive medical management of glycaemia and hypertension is also a priority in order to reduce the risk of diabetic retinopathy. Recent data have prompted a re-evaluation of the role of lipid-modifying therapy in reducing diabetic retinopathy. The Fenofibrate Intervention for Event Lowering in Diabetes (FIELD) study demonstrated a significant 30% relative reduction in the need for first retinal laser therapy in patients with (predominantly early-stage) type 2 diabetes treated with fenofibrate 200 mg daily, from 5.2% with placebo to 3.6% with fenofibrate, p=0.0003. The benefit of fenofibrate was evident within the first year of treatment. These promising data justify further evaluation of the mechanism and role of fenofibrate, in addition to standard therapy, in the management of diabetic retinopathy.