Proliferative diabetic retinopathy

This type of retinopathy is the most severe complication of diabetic eye disease and usually follows pre-proliferative retinopathy.

• Proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) is the angiogenic response of the retina to extensive capillary closure.
• New vessels grow at the interface of perfused and nonperfused retina and are described as new vessels on the disc (NVD) or new vessels elsewhere (NVE) (1).

It is seen most commonly in young patients who have been treated by insulin for at least 10 years.

The Wisconsin Epidemiologic Study of Diabetic Retinopathy showed proliferative retinopathy varied from 1.2% to 67% in persons with diabetes for less than ten years and 35 or more years, respectively.

Uncontrolled proliferation results in advanced diabetic eye disease with secondary glaucoma and retinal detachment (1).

Reference:

1. The Royal College of Ophthalmologists (RCOphth) 2012. Diabetic retinopathy guidelines
2. Klein R, Klein BE, Moss SE, Davis MD, DeMets DL. The Wisconsin epidemiologic study of diabetic retinopathy. II. Prevalence and risk of diabetic retinopathy when age at diagnosis is less than 30 years. Arch Ophthalmol. 1984 Apr;102(4):520-6.