Definition

DIABETIC RETINOPATHY, A retinal vascular disorder that occurs as a complication of

diabetes mellitus (DM), is a leading cause of blindness in the United States, often affecting
working-aged adults.
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It is characterized by signs of retinal ischemia (microaneurysms,
hemorrhages, cottonwool spots, intraretinal microvascular abnormalities, venous caliber
abnormalities, and neovascularization) and/or signs of increased retinal vascular permeability.
Vision loss can result from several mechanisms, including neovascularization leading to vitreous
hemorrhage and/or retinal detachment, macular edema, and retinal capillary nonperfusion.
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1. American Academy of Ophthalmology. Preferred Practice Pattern: Diabetic Retinopathy.
San Francisco, Calif: American Academy of Ophthalmology; 2008.
Klein R, Klein BE, Moss SE, Davis MD, DeMets DL. The Wisconsin Epidemiologic Study of
Diabetic Retinopathy, II: prevalence and risk of diabetic retinopathy when age at diagnosis is
less than 30 years. Arch Ophthalmol. 2006;102: 520-526.