Issue 6/2025
Vangelova, Y., Grupchev, D., FEBO
MC „Groupchevi Plus“; Medical University – Varna
Diabetic retinopathy is a leading cause of blindness in the working-age population. It affects almost every patient with diabetes. The progression of the disease and complications are determined by the duration of diabetes, high blood sugar levels, and arterial blood pressure. Diabetic macular edema and proliferative diabetic retinopathy are the two complications of diabetic retinopathy that threaten vision. In modern terms, when conservative treatment fails, a timely transition to surgical intervention is required – pars plana vitrectomy. This is a microsurgical intervention performed under a microscope with great precision. Vitrectomy gives us a chance to restore vision in patients with advanced forms of diabetic retinopathy (proliferative form) and in cases of long-lasting or recurrent hemorrhages. Recovery after vitrectomy in modern conditions usually proceeds quickly and without complications in the postoperative period, but requires systematic monitoring by an ophthalmologist. It is important to inform the patient that vision improves gradually from the first two weeks to three months after surgery, depending on the pathology. In the postoperative period, it is extremely important for the positive outcome of
the surgery to maintain stable blood sugar levels and arterial blood pressure levels, any sudden change in these values would lead to complications.Therefore, the role of general practitioners to monitor and refer their patients to a specialist is crucial. Every patient with diabetes should be monitored by an ophthalmologist at least once a year, and in the presence of pathology, more often. With timely diagnosed and treated diabetic retinal microangiopathy, the chances of preserving and regaining vision, in more advanced cases, increase significantly.
Key words: diabetic retinopathy, vitrectomy, hemophthalmus, vision, surgical treatment, general practitioner, complications of diabetes, retinal pathology
Address for correspondence:
Dr. Yoana Dimova Vangelova
MC „Grupchevi Plus“
1A „Seliolu“ St.,
9000, Varna