Specifications

23 II For Camera Operators (Pullout section)
The EyePACS Handbook: Tools for Program Success
Common Patient Questions
What are the Stages of Diabetic Retinopathy?
Diabetic retinopathy has four stages:
1. Mild Nonproliferative Diabetic Retinopathy. At this earliest stage,
microaneurysms occur. They are small areas of balloon-like swelling in the
retina's tiny blood vessels.
2. Moderate Nonproliferative Diabetic Retinopathy. As the disease progresses,
some blood vessels that nourish the retina are blocked.
3. Severe Nonproliferative Diabetic Retinopathy (NPDR). Many more blood
vessels are blocked, depriving several areas of the retina with their blood supply.
These areas of the retina send signals to the body to grow new blood vessels for
nourishment.
4. Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy (PDR). At this advanced stage, the signals
sent by the retina for nourishment trigger the growth of new blood vessels. This
condition is called proliferative retinopathy. These new blood vessels are
abnormal and fragile. They grow along the retina and along the surface of the
clear, vitreous gel that fills the inside of the eye. By themselves, these blood
vessels do not cause symptoms or vision loss. However, they have thin, fragile
walls. If they leak blood, severe vision loss and even blindness can result.
How does diabetic retinopathy cause vision loss?
Blood vessels damaged from diabetic retinopathy can cause vision loss in two ways:
1. Fragile, abnormal blood vessels can develop and leak blood into the center of
the eye, blurring vision. This is proliferative retinopathy and is the fourth and
most advanced stage of the disease.
2. Fluid can leak into the center of the macula, the part of the eye where sharp,
straight-ahead vision occurs. The fluid makes the macula swell, blurring vision.
This condition is called macular edema. It can occur at any stage of diabetic
retinopathy, although it is more likely to occur as the disease progresses. About
half of the people with proliferative retinopathy also have macular edema.