Diabetic retinopathy: pathogenesis and management of complications

Diabetic retinopathy, one of the ocular complications of the metabolic imbalance that characterize diabetes mellitus is a major cause of irreversible blindness. This article reviews the concepts of the pathogenesis of this complex disease. The management of this blinding disease is multifaceted and should be based on the sound understanding of the pathophysiologic mechanisms involved. The rationale, techniques, results and complications of the different treatment modalities including glycemic control, laser photocoagulation and vitrectomy are discussed.