Etiology
Diabetes has since risen to the status of a global epidemic. Diabetic retinopathy is a common diabetes complication that targets the retina region of the eye. It is considered a microvascular infection. The changes in the blood glucose level lead to alterations in the blood vessels of the retina. Chronic hyperglycemia results in biochemical changes leading to thickening of blood vessels and the formation of the microaneurysm (Kusuhara et al., 2018).
Clinical Presentation
The stages of the disease might not have any symptoms. However, in the advanced stages of the disease, several symptoms might be witnessed. They include changes in vision, blurred vision, eye floaters, double vision, and pain in the eye. Macular edema not only causes swelling but also the flow of fluids from the eye.
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Diagnosis
According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, a patient with type 1, diabetes should be screened for diabetic retinopathy. The best method for diagnosis is known as the comprehensive dilated eye examination (Phillip et al., 2013). The physician assesses abnormality in blood vessels, swelling, bleeding, and retinal detachments. The doctor also tests the vision of the patient and any incidents of cataracts.
Management
Management of the condition begins by ensuring that the blood glucose levels are controlled. It, therefore, means that diabetes should be managed by insulin drugs, diet, and performing exercise (Phillip et al., 2013). Treatment is possible for patients whose condition has been detected early. Also, laser surgery could be used as a corrective means for patients with the disorder. Laser treatment primarily targets maculopathy, which accompanies the disease.
Incidence
According to the National Society to Prevent Blindness, 7.7 million individuals with diabetes have diabetic retinopathy in the United States. The incident rate of the condition ranges between 2.2% to 12.7% annually (Lee, Wong, & Sabanayagam, 2015).
Demographics
The disease is most common in adults and older adults. Research has shown that diabetic retinopathy has a 90% prevalence in people who have lived with the disease for between 10 and 15 years. It, therefore, illustrates that the disease affects individuals in their advanced stages of life (Shah & Gardner, 2017).
References
Kusuhara, S., Fukushima, Y., Ogura, S., Inoue, N., & Uemura, A. (2018). Pathophysiology of diabetic retinopathy: the old and the new. Diabetes & metabolism journal, 42(5), 364-376.
Lee, R., Wong, T. Y., & Sabanayagam, C. (2015). Epidemiology of diabetic retinopathy, diabetic macular edema, and related vision loss. Eye and Vision, 2(1), 17.
Phillip Ellis, T., Hassan Choudhury, R., Kaul, K., Chopra, M., Maria Kohner, E., Mary Tarr, J., & Chibber, R. (2013). Diabetic retinopathy and atherosclerosis: is there a link?. Current diabetes reviews, 9(2), 146-160.
Shah, A. R., & Gardner, T. W. (2017). Diabetic retinopathy: research to clinical practice. Clinical diabetes and endocrinology, 3(1), 9.
