In a Large Retrospective Analysis, Just 2 Years After Diagnosis of DR1:

Patients with proliferative DR (PDR) were 4× more likely to have sustained blindness vs patients with mild DR1

Patients with severe NPDR were 3.6× more likely to have sustained blindness vs patients with mild NPDR1
AAO Iris® (Intelligent Research in Sight) registry records from January 1, 2013, through December 31, 2017; N=53,535 patients newly diagnosed with DR (n=678 evaluated for risk of sustained blindness). Risk of sustained blindness increased with development of glaucoma, AMD, RVO, diabetic macular edema (DME), vitreous hemorrhage, or retinal detachment. Sustained blindness defined as ≥2 visual acuity readings of 20/200 or worse in ≥3 months apart; no improvement beyond 20/100 after first 20/200 reading.
DR Can Become More Severe Quickly1
Even in the course of a year, patients’ eyes can progress from one stage of DR to the next.2
Why Is Early Detection So Critical?
In a Clinical Study, Approximately a Third of Patients With Severe NPDR Progressed to
PDR/Anterior Segment Neovascularization (ASNV) or Developed Central-Involved DME
(CI-DME) Within 1 Year Without Treatment (prespecified subgroup analysis)2

Severe NPDRPDR/ASNV | 29.4% (n=10/34) |
Within 1 year |
Moderately Severe NPDRPDR/ASNV | 17.2% (n=17/99) |
|
Severe NPDRCI-DME | 32.4% (n=11/34) |
|
Moderately Severe NPDRCI-DME | 23.2% (n=23/99) |
Take Action3,4
If you see or suspect DR and DME:
EDUCATE about the effects diabetes can have on their eyes, including the possibility of developing DR or DME3,4
- Your early and frequent discussions about progression of disease, treatment, and timely referral will help empower patients3,4
- Talk to your patients about modifiable risk factors (e.g., diet, weight, and tobacco use) for the development and progression of DR and DME5
REFER appropriate DR and DME patients for timely intervention3,4
-
According to the AOA, patients should be referred with
- Severe NPDR within 2 to 4 weeks
- PDR within 1 week
FOLLOW UP to ensure patients have visited a retina specialist3,4
MONITOR your patients with DR3,4
-
The AOA recommends frequent monitoring of patients3
- At least every 6 to 8 months in patients with moderate NPDR and more frequently for patients with greater disease severity3
According to the AOA, DR patients should be referred to a retina specialist in a timely manner
When Patients Should Be Seen by a Retina Specialist3
High-risk PDR (with or without macular edema) |
Within 24 to 48 hours |
PDR | Within 2 to 4 weeks |
DME/CSME | Within 2 to 4 weeks |
Severe NPDR | Within 2 to 4 weeks |
AAO = American Academy of Ophthalmology;
AMD = age-related macular degeneration;
CSME = clinically significant macular edema;
RVO = retinal vein occlusion.