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Abstract

Medical & Surgical Ophthalmology Research

The Constant Challenge of Visual Rehabilitation in the Patient with Diabetic Retinopathy

  • Open or Close Andrea Oleñik M*

    Department of Ophthalmology, Hospital Universitario Severo Ochoa, Spain

    *Corresponding author: Andrea Oleñik M, Hospital Universitario Severo Ochoa, Madrid, Spain

Submission: April 18, 2018; Published: May 04, 2018

DOI: 10.31031/MSOR.2018.02.000529

ISSN: 2578-0360
Volume2 Issue1

Abstract

Diabetic macular edema is the first cause of vision loss in these patients; Continuous evolution has allowed intravitreal drugs to improve visual prognosis and quality of life. But... once the process of separation of the layers of the retina by the presence of edema has been initiated and the continuous attempt to restore the quality of vision is a challenge for the current ophthalmologist. It is impossible to predict a result in each patient, since being both angiogenic and inflammatory components involved in the pathophysiology, the general metabolic state plays a crucial role. In the case of diabetes, not only macular edema is present, since microvascular changes throughout the retina affect peripheral vision when they must be treated with laser photocoagulation. If both are present, visual rehabilitation no longer only focuses on the central vision, but on “trying” to preserve as much viable peripheral retinal as possible. This is why we are facing a great problem of visual disability as well as a challenge in visual rehabilitation in a chronic pathology where all these changes could be prevented. What are we failing?

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