[Interdisciplinary interaction in vascular diseases of the eye, diabetes and diabetic retinopathy]

The incidence of diabetes mellitus type 2 is greatly increasing worldwide. An early therapy with intensified control of diabetes and blood pressure is especially important to avoid delayed complications. In addition to diabetic foot syndrome, diabetic retinopathy and diabetic nephropathy still represent commonly occurring problems. Despite improvements in the quality of care, the targets of the St. Vincent Declaration have still not yet been achieved. Diabetic retinopathy and diabetic nephropathy show parallels in the course of the disease and in the pathological anatomical alterations which have led to the inauguration of a diabetic renal-retinal syndrome. The ophthalmological assessment of the retina was previously considered to be a diagnostic aid for assessment of diabetic nephropathy; however, nowadays a simple estimation of the glomerular filtration rate using the modification of diet in renal disease (MDRD) formula and determination of microalbuminuria can in contrast give ophthalmologists an early indication of the possible presence of microangiopathic alterations.