Page 68 - NAME OF CONDITION: REFRACTIVE ERRORS

III. DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS
Diabetic retinopathy may present like or coexist with other conditions and hence
one needs to be careful with making a diagnosis. The following disorders may also
present similary and hence they have to be ruled out.
1. Hypertensive retinopathy

2. Vascular occlusive disorders
3. Inflammatory chorio retinopathy
4. Radiation retinopathy
5. Age related macular degeneration

IV. PREVENTION AND COUNSELLING

o All the diabetic patients are the potential candidates for vision impairment. Strict
control of blood glucose level and other risk factors like hypertension,
hypercholesterolemia, anaemia will retard the development and progression of
DR..

o Screening of all “known diabetic patients” for DR at their primary point of
contact, by physicians/diabetologists as most of the diabetic patients come to
the ophthalmologists only after experiencing considerable vision loss will detect
early cases.

o All pregnant women with diabetes should have dilated eye examinations during
each trimester of their pregnancy to check for retinopathy

o Educating the community for regular eye check up and having good healthy diet,
exercises and avoiding smoking goes a long way in preventing progression of
diabetic retinopathy.

V. OPTIMAL DIAGNOSTIC CRITERIA, INVESTIGATIONS,

TREATMENT & REFERRAL CRITERIA

*Situation 1: At Secondary Hospital/ Non-Metro situation: Optimal

Standards of Treatment in Situations where technology and

resources are limited

a) Clinical Diagnosis:

History taking: Diabetic retinopathy often has no early warning signs. Patients
usually presents with painless loss of vision. A thorough and complete history taking
regarding past duration of diabetes, treatment history, family history and history of

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