What are the ophthalmic complications of diabetes mellitus (DM)?

Answer

Patients with diabetes often develop ophthalmic complications, such as corneal abnormalities, glaucoma, iris neovascularization, cataracts, and neuropathies. The most common and potentially most blinding of these complications, however, is diabetic retinopathy,^{[1, 2, 3]}which is, in fact, the leading cause of new blindness in persons aged 25-74 years in the United States. Approximately 700,000 persons in the United States have proliferative diabetic retinopathy, with an annual incidence of 65,000. An estimate of the prevalence of diabetic retinopathy in the United States showed a high prevalence of 28.5% among those with diabetes aged 40 years or older.^[4](See Epidemiology.)

The exact mechanism by which diabetes causes retinopathy remains unclear, but several theories have been postulated to explain the typical course and history of the disease.^{[9, 10]}See the image below.

Fundus photograph of early background diabetic retinopathy showing multiple microaneurysms.

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Media Gallery

Fundus photograph of early background diabetic retinopathy showing multiple microaneurysms.
Retinal findings in background diabetic retinopathy, including blot hemorrhages (long arrow), microaneurysms (short arrow), and hard exudates (arrowhead).
Fluorescein angiogram demonstrating an area of capillary nonperfusion (arrow).
Fluorescein angiogram demonstrating foveal dye leakage caused by macular edema.
Fundus photograph of clinically significant macular edema demonstrating retinal exudates within the fovea.
New vessel formation on the surface of the retina (neovascularization elsewhere)
An area of neovascularization that leaks fluorescein on angiography.
Boat-shaped preretinal hemorrhage associated with neovascularization elsewhere.
Fibrovascular proliferations within the vitreous cavity
Extensive fibrovascular proliferations within and around the optic disc

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Author

Abdhish R Bhavsar, MD Adjunct Assistant Professor, Department of Ophthalmology, University of Minnesota Medical School; Director of Clinical Research, Retina Center, PA; Past Chair, Consulting Staff, Department of Ophthalmology, Phillips Eye Institute

Abdhish R Bhavsar, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Ophthalmology, American Medical Association, American Society of Retina Specialists, Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology, Minnesota Medical Association

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Coauthor(s)

Neal H Atebara, MD Private Practice, Retina Center of Hawaii

Neal H Atebara, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Ophthalmology, American Society of Retina Specialists, Retina Society, American Medical Association, Hawaii Medical Association

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

John H Drouilhet, MD, FACS Clinical Professor, Department of Surgery, Section of Ophthalmology, University of Hawaii, John A Burns School of Medicine

John H Drouilhet, MD, FACS is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Ophthalmology, American College of Surgeons, American Medical Association

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Specialty Editor Board

Simon K Law, MD, PharmD Clinical Professor of Health Sciences, Department of Ophthalmology, Jules Stein Eye Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, David Geffen School of Medicine

Simon K Law, MD, PharmD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Ophthalmology, Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology, American Glaucoma Society

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Steve Charles, MD Founder and CEO of Charles Retina Institute; Clinical Professor, Department of Ophthalmology, University of Tennessee College of Medicine

Disclosure: Received royalty and consulting fees for: Alcon Laboratories.

Chief Editor

Romesh Khardori, MD, PhD, FACP Professor of Endocrinology, Director of Training Program, Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Strelitz Diabetes and Endocrine Disorders Institute, Department of Internal Medicine, Eastern Virginia Medical School

Romesh Khardori, MD, PhD, FACP is a member of the following medical societies: American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists, American College of Physicians, American Diabetes Association, Endocrine Society

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Additional Contributors

V Al Pakalnis, MD, PhD Professor of Ophthalmology, University of South Carolina School of Medicine; Chief of Ophthalmology, Dorn Veterans Affairs Medical Center

V Al Pakalnis, MD, PhD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Ophthalmology, American College of Surgeons, South Carolina Medical Association

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Acknowledgements

The authors and editors of Medscape Reference gratefully acknowledge the contributions of previous author, Sherman O Valero, MD, to the development and writing of this article.

What are the ophthalmic complications of diabetes mellitus (DM)?

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