Retinopathy, Diabetic

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Important

It is possible that the main title of the report Retinopathy, Diabetic is not the name you expected. Please check the synonyms listing to find the alternate name(s) and disorder subdivision(s) covered by this report.

Synonyms

• Insulin-Dependent Diabetes Retinopathy
• Non-Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus Retinopathy

Disorder Subdivisions

• None

General Discussion

Diabetic Retinopathy is a complication of diabetes and a disorder of the light sensitive tissue of the eye (the retina). This condition is characterized by destructive changes in the blood vessels of the retina, which, if left unchecked, may lead to visual impairment or blindness. The severity of the damage to the retina is highly correlated with the length of time the patient has had diabetes.



For reasons that are not well understood, the blood vessels of the retina lack their normal oxygen load. Capillaries tend to close off, further depleting the oxygen supply. The diabetes process also weakens the walls of these blood vessels, which tend to become enlarged and form micro-aneurysms. Not infrequently, the small blood vessels break causing hemorrhage and contributing to the patient’s clouded vision.

Resources

National Association for Visually Handicapped

22 West 21st Street

New York, NY 10010

USA

Tel: 2128893141

Fax: 2127272931

Email: staff@navh.org

Internet: http://www.navh.org



American Foundation for the Blind

11 Penn Plaza

Suite 300

New York, NY 10001

Tel: (212)502-7600

Fax: (212)502-7777

Tel: (800)232-5463

TDD: (212)502-7662

Email: afbinfo@afb.org

Internet: http://www.afb.org



American Diabetes Association

National Call Center

1701 N. Beauregard Street

Alexandria, VA 22311

Tel: (703)549-1500

Fax: (703)549-6995

Tel: (800)342-2383

Email: askADA@diabetes.org

Internet: http://www.diabetes.org



NIH/National Eye Institute

Building 31 Rm 6A32

31 Center Dr MSC 2510

Bethesda, MD 20892-2510

United States

Tel: 3014965248

Fax: 3014021065

Email: 2020@nei.nih.gov

Internet: http://www.nei.nih.gov/



ROPARD:The Association for Retinopathy of Prematurity and Related Diseases

P.O.Box 250425

Franklin, MI 48025

Tel: (248)549-2671

Fax: (248)788-4589

Tel: (800)788-2020

Email: ropard@yahoo.com

Internet: http://www.ropard.org



Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation International

120 Wall St. 19th Fl

New York, NY 10005-4001

Tel: (212)785-9500

Fax: (212)785-2873

Tel: (800)533-2873

Email: info@jdrf@org

Internet: http://www.jdrf.org

For a Complete Report

This is an abstract of a report from the National Organization for Rare Disorders, Inc. ® (NORD). A copy of the complete report can be obtained for a small fee by visiting the NORD website. The complete report contains additional information including symptoms, causes, affected population, related disorders, standard and investigational treatments (if available), and references from medical literature. For a full-text version of this topic, see http://www.rarediseases.org/search/rdblist.html

The information provided in this report is not intended for diagnostic purposes. It is provided for informational purposes only. NORD recommends that affected individuals seek the advice or counsel of their own personal physicians.

It is possible that the title of this topic is not the name you selected. Please check the Synonyms listing to find the alternate name(s) and Disorder Subdivision(s) covered by this report.

This disease entry is based upon medical information available through the date at the end of the topic. Since NORD's resources are limited, it is not possible to keep every entry in the Rare Disease Database completely current and accurate. Please check with the agencies listed in the Resources section for the most current information about this disorder.

For additional information and assistance about rare disorders, please contact the National Organization for Rare Disorders at P.O. Box 1968, Danbury, CT 06813-1968; phone (203) 744-0100; web site www.rarediseases.org or email orphan@rarediseases.org

Last Updated:  8/8/2007

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Last updated:	August 08, 2007