This activity is provided by Med Learning Group.
This activity is supported by an educational grant from Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Copyright © 2019Med Learning Group. Built by Divigner. All Rights Reserved.
Diabetes is the leading cause of new cases of blindness in adults. This is a growing problem as the number of people living with diabetes increases, so does the number of people with impaired vision.1
Diabetes can cause a disease of the eye called diabetic retinopathy (DR). In its early stages, patients may not notice any symptoms or changes to their eyesight, and cannot tell that this condition is damaging their eyes. If it is not detected and treated in a timely manner, their vision can be damaged permanently.1 The risk of Diabetic Retinopathy increases the longer a person has diabetes. Between 40% to 45% of Americans diagnosed with diabetes have some stage of DR, although only about half are aware of it.2
A study conducted at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that the prevalence of DR was high, affecting almost one-third of adults over age 40 years with diabetes, and more than one-third of African-Americans and Mexican Americans.1 In the U.S., diabetic retinopathy affects approximately 86% of patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) and 40% of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).3-5 The number of Americans aged 40 years and older with DR will triple from 5.5 million in 2005 to 16.0 million in 2050 with increases among those aged 65 years and older being more pronounced (2.5 million to 9.9 million for DR).3 According to the CDC, nearly 22% of the over 4 million Americans with diabetic retinopathy are at risk for vision-threatening complications.4
Diabetic Retinopathy in the United States1
The CDC notes that investigating the prevalence of DR is important because it is a key indicator of systemic diabetic microvascular complications, and as such, a sentinel indicator of the impact of diabetes and that improved access to screening for and treatment of DR may reduce the burden of diabetes-related vision loss.1
Want to learn more about the treatment and risks of Diabetic Retinopathy as a provider? Check out our other DR Clinician Educational Resources.
This activity is provided by Med Learning Group.
This activity is supported by an educational grant from Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Copyright © 2019Med Learning Group. Built by Divigner. All Rights Reserved.
James P. Gills Professor of Ophthalmology
Professor of Ophthalmology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins Medicine
Baltimore, MD
Specializing in Diabetes Eye Care & Education, Chous Eye Care Associates
Adjunct Professor of Optometry, Western University of Health Sciences
AOA Representative, National Diabetes Education Program
Tacoma, WA
Chief of Optometry, Sepulveda VA Medical Center
Professor, Southern California College of Optometry at Marshall B. Ketchum University
Sepulveda, CA
Ophthalmologist-in-Chief
Wills Eye Hospital
Philadelphia, PA
Director, Retina Research
Wills Eye Hospital
Professor and Chair of the Department of Ophthalmology
Thomas Jefferson University Hospitals
Philadelphia, PA
Director of Research, Retina Consultants of Houston
Associate Professor of Clinical Ophthalmology
Blanton Eye Institute & Houston Methodist Hospital
Houston, TX
The RELIEF Clinical Toolkit is an online tool that aims to provide clinicians with up-to-date information on the presentation, prognosis, pathophysiology, and treatment strategies for diabetic retinopathy (DR) in patients with diabetes who have or are at risk for developing DR. Click on one of the options below to learn more about DR.
This activity is provided by Med Learning Group.
This activity is supported by an educational grant from Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.