Diabetische Retinopathie

Diabetic retinopathy is a microvascular complication of diabetes, which can be found in almost all diabetic patients in the course of the disease. It is the most common cause of blindness in the western world in working age patients. The main reasons for loss of diabetic macular edema, which can occur at any stage of the disease and proliferative diabetic retinopathy. Risk factors are the duration of disease and poorly controlled arterial hypertension and blood glucose levels.Regular ophthalmologic surveillance is essential even in asymptomatic patients in order to prevent long-term consequences. The therapeutic options are laser photocoagulation, vitrectomy and the newly available intravitreal application of drugs.