Diabetic retinopathy is retinopathy (damage to the retina) caused by complications of diabetes mellitus, which could eventually lead to blindness. It is an ocular manifestation of systemic disease which affects up to 80% of all diabetics who have had diabetes for 15 years or more. Despite these intimidating statistics, research indicates that at least 90% of these new cases could be reduced if there was proper and vigilant treatment and monitoring of the eyes.
As new blood vessels form at the back of the eye as a part of proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR), they can bleed (hemorrhage) and blur vision. The first time this happens, it may not be very severe. In most cases, it will leave just a few specks of blood, or spots, floating in a person's visual field, though the spots often go away after a few hours.
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Angeles Vision Clinic - Preproliferative Diabetic Retinopathy - Information on diabetic eye disease. Covers preproliferative diabetic retinopathy, proliferative diabetic retinopathy, and background diabetic retinopathy.
Meta Description: [ Nonproliferative (or Background) diabetic retinopathy is primarily a disease of retinal blood vessels. It is the result of two major processes affecting the retinal blood vessels: vessel closure and abnormal vessel permeability. ]
Diabetes-Sight.org - Designed to help both patients and health care professionals find the information and resources they need for the prevention of vision loss from diabetes.
Diabetic Retinopathy - Information for Patients - From the National Eye Institute. Helps people with diabetic retinopathy and their families better understand the disease.
DiabeticEyes.com - Information about preventing vision loss and blindness, from a diabetic eye doctor.
Meta Description: [ Learn how diabetes affects the
eyes and vision, including crucial information about preventing
vision loss and blindness, from a diabetic eye doctor. ]
eMedicine Health - Diabetic Eye Disease - Consumer health resource center providing information on the causes, symptoms, and treatment for diabetes related eye disorders.
Meta Description: [ Diabetes mellitus is one of the leading causes of irreversible blindness worldwide, and, in the United States, it is the most common cause of blindness in people younger than 65 ... ]
Eye Care Source - Details about the symptoms, detection, prevention, treatment, and of Diabetic Retinopathy.
Meta Description: [ A consumer guide to Diabetic Retinopathy. ]
EyeMD Link - Diabetic Retinopathy - Information including pictures, related conditions, treatments, and links to important eye problem information.
Eyes on Diabetes - Resource for diabetic retinopathy in Australia. Developed by the Eyes on Diabetes Forum for use by health professionals, people with diabetes, carers and the wider community.
Meta Description: [ Eyes on Diabetes is the leading online resourse for diabetic retinopathy in Australia ]
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NHS Diabetic Retinopathy Screening - The UK National Screening Committee's (NSC) recommendations for developing a cost-effective national screening strategy for diabetic retinopathy in the United Kingdom.
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