Updated May 18, 2006

Retinopathy

A disease of the retina, the light-sensitive membrane at the back of the eye, associated with diabetes. After having diabetes for 20 years, nearly all people with Type 1 diabetes and more than 60% of people with Type 2 diabetes develop retinopathy.

The retina translates light entering the eyes into nerve signals that travel through the optic nerve to the brain. Diabetes can disrupt the proper functioning of the retina. In the earliest stages of diabetic retinopathy, the tiny blood vessels of the retina become more permeable and begin to leak fluid into the vitreous, the gel that fills the eye. This can cause swelling in the macula (the central part of the retina responsible for sharp vision), a potentially sight-threatening condition called macular edema. As diabetic retinopathy progresses, the blood vessels are unable to supply the retina with adequate blood, a condition called ischemia. Starved for oxygen, the retina responds by growing new blood vessels (a process called neovascularization), but these new blood vessels are abnormal and tend to leak blood into the vitreous and cause scarring. In some cases, scar tissue can pull on the retina and cause it to detach, creating blank spaces in the field of vision. Although laser surgery usually can help save some vision, diabetic retinopathy remains the leading cause of new blindness in people aged 20ndash;74 in the United States.

There are a number of measures that can help prevent or slow the progression of diabetic retinopathy. One is blood glucose control. The Diabetes Control and Complications Trial showed that intensive blood glucose control can lower the risk of developing diabetic retinopathy by 76%. A number of studies have shown that tight control of blood pressure can also substantially lower the risk. In people with existing diabetic retinopathy, laser treatment can be used to destroy abnormal new blood vessels, which can help to save sight. Laser treatment can also be used to save sight in people with macular edema.

Researchers are looking at potential new drugs to help reduce the risk of diabetic complications, including diabetic retinopathy. One promising type of drug is a protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitor, a drug that blocks one of the biochemical pathways through which high blood glucose damages body tissues. A PKC inhibitor known as ruboxistaurin has been shown in diabetic animal models to prevent or reverse early blood flow abnormalities seen in retinopathy, nephropathy (kidney disease), and neuropathy (nerve damage). The drug is currently in clinical trials for all three complications. In late 2005, the company developing ruboxistaurin, Eli Lilly and Co., applied for Food and Drug Adminstration approval of the drug for diabetic retinopathy.

Since diabetic retinopathy is most treatable in its earliest stages, it is important to catch it early. According to the American Diabetes Association (ADA), people with Type 1 diabetes should get a comprehensive eye examination by an ophthalmologist or optometrist within 3–5 years of the onset of diabetes. Since people with Type 2 diabetes may have had the disease long before it was diagnosed, the ADA recommends that they get a comprehensive eye examination shortly after diagnosis. The ADA recommends annual eye examinations thereafter in people with either Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes.

This article was written by Robert S. Dinsmoor, a Contributing Editor of Diabetes Self-Management.

More articles on Diabetes Definitions

Statements and opinions expressed on this Web site are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the publishers or advertisers. The information provided on this Web site should not be construed as medical instruction. Consult appropriate health-care professionals before taking action based on this information.