$Unique_ID{BRK04180} $Pretitle{} $Title{Retinopathy, Diabetic} $Subject{Retinopathy Diabetic Insulin-Dependent Diabetes Type II Diabetes Non-Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus } $Volume{} $Log{} Copyright (C) 1986, 1987, 1989, 1992, National Organization for Rare Disorders, Inc. 316: Retinopathy, Diabetic ** IMPORTANT ** It is possible the main title of this article (Diabetic Retinopathy) is not the name you expected. Please check the SYNONYMS listing to find the alternate names and disorder subdivisions covered by this article. Synonyms Insulin-Dependent Diabetes Type II Diabetes (Non-Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus General Discussion ** REMINDER ** The information contained in the Rare Disease Database is provided for educational purposes only. It should not be used for diagnostic or treatment purposes. If you wish to obtain more information about this disorder, please contact your personal physician and/or the agencies listed in the "Resources" section of this report. Diabetic Retinopathy is a disorder of the light sensitive tissue of the eye (retina) caused by diabetes. This condition is characterized by pathologic changes in the blood vessels of the retina. Unchecked, it may lead to visual impairment or blindness. Symptoms In Diabetic Retinopathy the retina becomes damaged as a consequence of diabetes. The tiny blood vessels of the retina undergo pathologic changes. During the earliest stages of this retinopathy no changes are visible to the ophthalmologist. Sometimes diabetes can also cause a change in the focusing power of the eye. Untreated, this condition can lead to vision impairment or blindness. (For more information, choose "Diabetes" as your search term in the Rare Disease Database, and see related articles in the Prevalent Health Conditions/Concerns section of NORD Services (rdb-4.) Causes The earliest changes in the retina of diabetic people involve a reduction in blood flow and velocity. Later, in more advanced stages of Diabetic Retinopathy these changes can evolve into significantly increased blood flow along with development of physical abnormalities within the small vessel network of the retina. Affected Population Approximately 40% of all people with diabetes show at least mild signs of Diabetic Retinopathy. About 3% of patients with diabetes have suffered severe visual loss and blindness because of this disorder. Related Disorders Insulin-Dependent Diabetes is a disorder in which the body does not produce enough insulin. The disorder, which affects more females than males, is hereditary. (For more information on this disorder, choose Insulin-Dependent Diabetes" as your search term in the Rare Disease Database.) Type II Diabetes (Non-Insulin-Dependent Diabetes Mellitus) is the more common form of the disorder. Also known as Adult Onset Diabetes, it usually occurs after the age of 40 years. This type of diabetes is not secondary to other diseases or conditions. In many cases, the disorder can be controlled through diet, and, sometimes, with oral medication (e.g. Diabenese, or chlorpropamide), and regular exercise. For more information on diabetes, choose "diabetes" as your search term in the Rare Disease Database, and see related articles in the Prevalent Health Conditions/Concerns area of NORD Services. Therapies: Standard Normalization of glucose levels in diabetic patients can help reverse changes in the small blood vessels of the eye. It is vital that people with diabetes have regular medical and ophthalmologic checkups to avoid onset of Diabetic Retinopathy. If normal glucose levels can be maintained, this complication of diabetes may be avoided. Treatment with a laser can reduce the risk of visual loss from Diabetic Retinopathy in many cases. During this treatment, called photocoagulation, powerful beams of light from a laser are aimed at many spots on the diseased retina. In most cases, this treatment can interrupt the disease process and prevent the development of additional retinal abnormalities. Some patients may experience unwanted side effects such as decreased central and side vision. Therapies: Investigational In case of massive bleeding inside the eye, ophthalmologists can remove the blood and scar tissue from the center of the eye with special surgical instruments. This experimental procedure is called vitrectomy. In some cases vision may improve enough for patients to move around unaided, and occasionally to resume reading or driving. However, more research is needed to determine the longterm effects of this procedure on Diabetic Retinopathy. Additionally, investigations with a new drug, sorbinil, are underway to establish if the drug can prevent eye and nerve damage in diabetics who do not yet have retinopathy. Clinical trials are underway to study suppression of Growth Hormone and IGFI with Octreotide for prevention of progression of Diabetic Retinopathy. Interested persons may wish to contact: Maria Grant, M.D. J-226 Shands Teaching Hospital Jay Hillis Miller Health Center University of Florida Gainsville, FL 32601 (904) 392-2613 to see if further patients are needed for this research. This disease entry is based upon medical information available through January 1992. Since NORD's resources are limited, it is not possible to keep every entry in the Rare Disease Database completely current and accurate. Please check with the agencies listed in the Resources section for the most current information about this disorder. Resources For more information on Diabetic Retinopathy, please contact: National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD) P.O. Box 8923 New Fairfield, CT 06812-1783 (203) 746-6518 American Diabetes Association National Service Center 1660 Duke St. Alexandria, VA 22314 (703) 549-1000 (800) ADA-DISC Juvenile Diabetes Foundation International 60 Madison Avenue, 4th Floor New York, NY 10010 (212) 889-7575 NIH/National Eye Institute 9000 Rockville Pike Bethesda, MD 20892 (301) 496-5583 American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) 1010 Vermont Ave., Suite 1100 New York, NY 10011 (202) 395-3666 National Association for the Visually Handicapped 305 East 24th Street, Room 17-C New York, NY 10010 (212) 889-3141 Vision Foundation, Inc. 2 Mt. Auburn Street Watertown, MA 02172 (617) 926-4232 Eye Research Institute of Retina Foundation 20 Staniford St. Boston, MA 02114 (617) 742-3140 References U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Public Health Service. National Institutes of Health. NIH Publication No. 85-2171: Diabetic Retinopathy.