Diabetic retinopathy

Macular edema can occur early, especially in maturity onset diabetics. These patients will usually have blurred vision. An examination (through dilated pupil) will reveal fuzziness or hard exudates in the central retina. The ETDRS proved focal laser treatment to leaking blood vessels reduces vision loss. Proliferative retinopathy occurs after 12-15 years or more of diabetes in juvenile diabetics and any time in maturity onset diabetics. Proliferative disease may be completely asymptomatic until there is a vitreous hemorrhage or retinal detachment. The DRS showed scatter laser treatment reduces severe visual loss by at least 50% in patients with proliferative disease. If proliferative disease is not treated, it almost always causes blindness. We must shout this message to all primary care physicians and diabetics. If we are successful, we can eliminate preventable blindness in Iowa's diabetics.