Background
Type 2 diabetes mellitus is an increasingly prevalent
presentation in Australian general practice, where most patients
receive their preventive care and management.
Objective
In this article we discuss the relevant issues for clinicians and
the screening recommendations for diabetic and hypertensive
retinopathy.
Discussion
Screening for diabetic retinopathy is a crucial component
of preventive care, with early identification of change and
timely treatment likely to prevent most blindness. Despite this,
a quarter of Australians with diabetes are not appropriately
screened. General practitioners must take a key role in initiating,
delivering or monitoring their patient’s diabetic retinopathy
screening to reduce preventable blindness from diabetes
mellitus. Hypertensive retinopathy indicates end organ disease
but regular screening for hypertensive retinopathy is not
routinely recommended.
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