This activity for Diabetic Retinopathy education is provided by Med Learning Group.
This activity is supported by an independent medical education grant from Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
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Maintaining Healthy Vision In Patients With Diabetes
It is possible to have diabetic retinopathy (DR) without any symptoms, however, it is also possible for symptoms to appear and then resolve. Because symptomatology does not necessarily correlate with the presence of disease, dilated eye exams are imperative for people with and without symptoms.1 Early detection and treatment of DR can lower the risk of blindness by 90%.2 Still, referral for dilated eye examination is provided for <50% of diabetic patients seen by primary care and <86% seen by endocrinology.3,4
What you can do:
- Refer for a yearly dilated eye examination, even if the patient does not have symptoms1
- If the patient has already been diagnosed with DR, encourage them to keep the follow-up schedule as recommended by their eye doctor
- Don’t delay treatment: The better the vision is prior to treatment, the better the vision will be after treatment5
- Encourage appropriate blood sugar levels6
- Ensure medications are taken as directed6
- Make sure hypertension and hyperlipidemia are controlled, if present7,8
- Encourage moderate aerobic exercise that gets the heart pumping for a total of 2 ½ hours per week, a healthy diet and maintaining a healthy weight9
References
- Flaxel CJ, Adelman RA, Bailey ST, et al. Diabetic Retinopathy Preferred Practice Pattern®. Ophthalmology. 2020;127(1):P66-P145.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2018). CDC Features: Keep an Eye on Your Vision Health. Accessed 4/11/22. https://www.cdc.gov/visionhealth/resources/features/keep-eye-on-vision-health.html
- Kraft SK, Marrero DG, Lazaridis EN, et al. Primary care physicians’ practice patterns and diabetic retinopathy: current levels of care. Arch Fam Med. 1997;6(1):29-37.
- Silva FQ, Adhi M, Wai KM, et al. Evaluation and referral of diabetic eye disease in the endocrinology and primary care office settings. Ophthalmic Surg Lasers Imaging Retina. 2016;47(10):930-934.
- Sophie R, Lu N, Campochiaro PA. Predictors of functional and anatomical outcomes in patients with diabetic macular edema treated with ranibizumab. Ophthalmology. 2015;122 (7):1395-1401.
- Ferris FL 3rd, Nathan DM. Preventing diabetic retinopathy progression. Ophthalmology. 2016;123(9):1840-1842.
- Shi R, Zhao L, Wang F, et al. Effects of lipid-lowering agents on diabetic retinopathy: A Meta-analysis and systematic review. Int J Ophthalmol. 2018;11(2):287-295.
- UK Prospective Diabetes Study Group. Tight blood pressure control and risk of macrovascular and microvascular complications in type 2 diabetes. BMJ. 1998;317(7160):703-713.
- Diabetes Prevention Program Research Group. Reduction in the incidence of type 2 diabetes with lifestyle intervention or metformin. N Engl J Med. 2002;346(6):393-403.
