[Surgical approach to diabetic retinopathy]

Progress in instrumentation and techniques may prevent from blindness patients affected with severe diabetic retinopathy. Surgery stabilizes the situation in 20% of the cases and improves vision in 70%. In 10% of the cases, however, treatment is undertaken too late and the eye may be lost. Although great improvements have been realized, early detection and screening for diabetic retinopathy, as well as adequate laser therapy, are of prime importance to save vision of diabetic patients.