Diabetic Retinopathy Flashcards
What is diabetic retinopathy?
Condition where blood vessels in the retina are damaged by prolonged exposure to high blood sugar levels
What is the pathophysiology of diabetic retinopathy?
Hyperglycaemia -> damage to small retinal vessels + endothelial cells
Increased vascular permeability leads to
- blot haemorrhages
- hard exudates
Damage to blood vessel walls leads to
- microaneurysms
- venous bleeding
Damage to nerve fibres -> cotton wool spots
What are hard exudates?
Yellow/white deposits of lipid in the retina
What are microaneurysms?
Weakness in vessel walls causes small bulges
What is venous beading?
Where the walls of the veins are no longer straight and look more like strings of beads
What are cotton wool spots?
Damage to nerve fibres causes fluffy white patches
What are IRMA?
Intraretinal microvascular abnormalities
Dilated and tortuous capillaries in the retina
What is neovascularisation?
Growth factors are released into the retina causing the growth of new vessels
How is diabetic retinopathy classified?
Non-proliferative
- mild
- moderate
- severe
Proliferative
Diabetic maculopathy
What is mild non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy?
Microaneurysms
What is moderate non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy?
Microaneurysms Blot haemorrhages Hard exudates Cotton wools spots Venous beading
What is severe non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy?
Blot haemorrhages \+ microaneurysms in 4 quadrants \+ venous beading in 2 quadrants \+ IMRA
What is proliferative diabetic retinopathy?
Neovascularisation
Vitreous haemorrhage
What is diabetic maculopathy?
Macular oedema
Ischaemic maculopathy
What are complications of diabetic retinopathy?
Retinal detachments Vitreous haemorrhage Rebeosis iridis Optic neuropathy Cataracts
