Diabetic retinopathy in the practice of an optometrist

Abstract

Diabetic retinopathy is a microangiopathy that occurs as a result of chronic prolonged exposure to high glucose levels on the retina of the eyes. In optometric practice, a specialist, on the one hand, faces the impossibility of performing a complete correction of vision, and on the other, may be the first to suspect such a pathology and refer the patient to a doctor. At the same time, it should be noted that medical professionals specializing in the treatment of diabetes often work in isolation, which requires patients to visit several clinics and specialists. Despite the great relevance, in many countries, difficulties remain in coordinating treatment programs for narrow-profile specialists who provide assistance to people living with diabetes. In this article we discuss the epidemiology, describe an approach to its assessment, diagnosis and provide an overview of the principles of treatment of diabetic retinopathy. In this article we discuss the epidemiology and natural history of diabetic retinopathy and describe an approach to its assessment, diagnosis and provide an overview of the principles of treatment of diabetic retinopathy. The article mentions a large number of people with diabetic retinopathy in the world, including in Russia, and notes that the actual prevalence is probably higher than the reported figures.